CREDIT: FSU PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT
Ismail Aravai, Dave Smith, Santa, Deena Griffin and Ian Foss.

Almost two decades ago, the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) started the Adopt-A-Student Family Campaign to help families in need. The first year of the campaign, a couple hundred dollars was raised on campus to fulfill holiday wishes and provide basic necessities to vulnerable students and families. In 2022, the FSU raised $1,800 through online and cash donations. This year also marked the first time the School of Language and Liberal Studies donated new and used items for one of the adopted families.

Deena Griffin, Marketing Manager at the FSU was very pleased to see the amount raised for this campaign. Griffin explained the campaign helps a lot of families in need and comes at the right time of the year, just before the holidays.

“Unfortunately, there are students at Fanshawe who can’t go home for the holidays or are having difficulty making ends meet at this time of year. Food is a necessity and one of the largest expenses for students. We wanted to make the holidays a little brighter for some of these students,” Griffin stated. “During COVID, the Adopt-A-Student Family Campaign was unable to collect donations on campus for the campaign. Thankfully, the Fanshawe Alumni Association offered their crowdfunding platform to reach donors online, in their homes, so we could continue to help student families during the holidays.”


2022’s campaign was able to help five families. The families were chosen by The Sharing Shop. Funds received from this campaign are used to purchase food and other items such as winter clothing, children’s clothes, books, and toys. FSU Catering Services also donates a meal to the student families that are selected.

Some ways people can get involved is by donating online, cash donations at Oasis (donation box for coins or adding a dollar to your order at the register), or by donating new and gently used winter items to The Sharing Shop. The FSU helped to organize, shop, wrap, and deliver the items to each family.

If all that weren’t enough, a massive donation was given to The Sharing Shop by Fanshawe Student Services. Fanshawe’s retail services manager, Dave Smith, presented The Sharing Shop with a $17,000 donation at a Wellness Wishes event in December 2022.

“The Sharing Shop provides full-time Fanshawe College students, in a short-term need of assistance, with grocery items and toiletries. The Adopt-A-Student Family Campaign happens in November/December every year, but The Sharing Shop receives donations year-round to help Fanshawe students in need from students, staff and outside sources, enabling us to provide these items to students in temporary need. Please consider donating to the Sharing Shop at fsu.ca/the-sharing-shop,” Griffin said.