The Sharing Shop located in B1050 is a free store on campus for students in temporary need.

If you're a student in need of food, hygienic products, clothing or more, and your funds are dwindling, there is help on campus.

Located in B1050, the Sharing Shop is operated and run by student volunteers and supported by the faculty, staff and administration of Fanshawe College.

Many students find themselves without a job, waiting for their next bursary to come in, or they find themselves in a situation where they need a textbook they cannot afford. The Sharing Shop can provide for them on a shortterm basis. Students who find themselves in need of long-term assistance are referred to the many services the city of London has to offer.

Janet Ostrom, who works in Counselling and Accessibility Services and runs the Shop, explained, "The Sharing Shop is a free store for students in temporary need. It was the brainchild of a Social Service Worker student back in 1998. She was a placement student in our office who found a need for students in a temporary financial situation. The shop opened its doors collecting clothing, textbooks, supplies and food for students in need."

The Sharing Shop is run entirely by volunteers, and so its hours are based on the availability of its volunteers. "We try to make it so the Sharing Shop is open from 9 until 4, Monday to Friday."

In regards to whether or not they get enough donations to provide for students in need, Ostrom said, "Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. This year people have been very generous with financial donations. The biggest problem with financial donations is that, because I am the only paid employee of the Sharing Shop, I need to be able to go and do the shopping. In that regard, we would be better with the actual physical donations. Many students do not know they can access the Sharing Shop, and they also do not know they can donate to it."

Though the Shop can be a huge help for students in need, its services are not all that well known around campus, said Ostrom. "I think because when they actually hear about it, or when it is being advertised, maybe it's when they don't really need it. Maybe it's the stigma of never needing or having to use that service. And we really wish that students would understand, that's what it's there for."

To make a donation to the Shop, look for the bins in the Library (L1003), General Studies Division office (E2035), Human Services Division office (D3024), Counselling and Accessibility Services (F2010), Student Union office (SC2001) or at the Sharing Shop itself (B1050).

To volunteer with the Sharing Shop, contact Ostrom at jostrom@fanshawec.ca.