According to Feed Ontario, the number of people accessing food banks in the province increased to over 1 million in 2023. This statistic clearly outlines how difficult it is for individuals in the province to keep up with the growing prices of essentials and food. Among the many affected, college students are also feeling the pinch. Fanshawe College has a support program of their own available to struggling students known as the Sharing Shop.

“The Sharing Shop is the on-campus food bank here, for Fanshawe college students, and it’s run by students for students,” shared Bonnie Williams, an administrative services manager at the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU), who helps run the Sharing Shop.

The Sharing Shop opened in 1998 and has been available to students ever since. It was located in the front of Fanshawe's campus, but has since moved to the student union building.

The Sharing Shop is a referral-based support system, and students must go through an application process in order to access support.

“We do that process just to make sure students are accessing all the support available to them on campus because a student struggling with food insecurity may not just have food insecurity happening there, maybe some other links there including job loss,” added Williams.

While Ontario food banks are seeing an increase in usage and demand, so are on-campus supports.

“The Sharing Shop is used by students every semester, and it has been around for a long time. We've seen it ebb and flow in terms of usages but again on the trajectory of what our economy is we have been seeing students really utilize this resource,” shared Williams.

The FSU offers a list of support outside of the Sharing Shop that can also aid students through these tough times.

“The Sharing Shop is just one piece of the pie, we do a lot of other events as well including the free breakfast program,” Williams said.

The Sharing Shop is run by student volunteers which is something the FSU values.

“It really encompasses that FSU student serving student mentality,” shared Williams.

Students who are interested in helping out can volunteer or donate.

“We have donation bins all across campus. We have a complete list on our website or a monetary donation can be accepted as well online,” Williams said.

For information on student support visit fsu.ca/sharing-shop.