Tucked away in B1050 is the Sharing Shop, a donation-based establishment that helps students in financial need.

New Counselling and Accessibility department hire Amy Romao will be heading up the Sharing Shop this year. “There are other community-based programs that students can tap into. But within our community, we have the Sharing Shop that people don't even know about ... Students in need or in a temporary bind can use the Sharing Shop for used clothing, textbooks and food,” she said.

The Shop is intended for students in need and is therefore linked with Counselling and Accessibility, said Lois Wey, senior manager of that department. “If there are underlying financial issues, or underlying issues that make it a recurring problem, we would encourage those students to speak with a counselor as to what else they'll need to be in better financial shape.”

“They'll come because they're having a personal crisis, and that's when a counsellor will tell them about the Sharing Shop,” said Romao.

Donations range from cash to clothes, from food to hygiene products, and both students and staff can donate. “We strongly encourage students and staff and faculty to give when they can. There are donation boxes around the college,” said Wey.

Look for Sharing Shop donation bins near the Library (L1003), General Studies Division (E2035), Human Services Division (D3024), Counselling and Accessibility Services (F2010), Student Union office (SC2001) and outside the Shop.

In addition to individual donations, “we've been very lucky that we've had particular student groups or particular staff departments that do a drive for non-perishable foods.”

Wey said the Shop's importance is to not only help struggling students but to also “raise awareness to students that there are some of their peers that are having difficult times.”

“It's important for the Fanshawe community ... With a community of 16,000 students, we will have students who have run into financial difficulties and don't have ready support. We know that students who are struggling financially don't have enough to eat and are not going to be able to do well in school.”

Wey said the Sharing Shop was started because there was a need in the College. “We were seeing students that were running into difficulty and were hungry, and thought we should have a community response that would be here,” she said. “An ongoing service.”

Romao wants the Shop to continue to be a success and has her own goals. “I would like to see that our community here within the college has given so much, or donated so much that we have to turn to our outer community to give the excess to them. To have that overflow of support and volunteers.”

“I think it's great to lead by example. I believe it's great for networking and it's great experience. I want to be able to give back and help those that are in need,” said Romao.

“[Another] goal would be to have every student know about the Sharing Shop,” she said.

Have we accomplished that one yet?