Free Store attracts huge crowds
By Jon Rausseo
Originally started by the student members of Green Campus, the Free Store initiative has grown into a campus phenomenon. The premise of the program is simple: donations are collected and offered freely to the campus community.
In 2006, the Free Store was just a small event where students would bring items they wanted to swap with one another. The following year, the Free Store got a boost from the Dump & Run, where items collected from residences after students moved out were added to the Free Store’s inventory. The event also started to give away more than just clothing, morphing into full-day activity in the process.
Three years ago, the International Office partnered with the Office of Campus Sustainability to create a special Free Store event exclusively for international students. This created a loyal following of students, whose enthusiasm in turn generated more buzz. The Student Federation also established an official drop-off location for the Free Store in its main office and helped promote the event.
Two years ago, a second Dump & Run rotation was added, bringing a much-needed infusion of new items to the Free Store in the winter session. It was at about this time that Community Life struck a partnership with the Office of Campus Sustainability to increase access to the event and, ever since, Free Store has been open monthly .
Last year, the Free Store took off in a big way. After having been inspired by the uOttawa experience, two new Free Stores popped up. The first was copied by a Katimavik participant, who exported the event to her CEGEP after having worked at the uOttawa Free Store. The second was replicated in France by an international student enthused by her time in Ottawa. Both credit the University of Ottawa as their source of inspiration. Meanwhile, back in Ottawa, a smaller version of the Free Store was created at the Student Federation’s Food Bank.
This year, the Free Store will celebrate its fifth anniversary. And in an effort to continue to expand the initiative, the good people of EcoEquitable are getting involved by offering hemming and clothing- alteration services. The hope is that more individuals will use the Free Store and perhaps repair some of their own clothing before tossing it out.
The Free Store is always looking for donations. If you want to know when the next Free Store takes place or if you’re interested in donating your old clothes, books, appliances, pictures… anything, please consult our website.
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