Free Store Report 2025

Mission

A student collects donations for the Free Store

The Free Store is a one-stop shop for donations by the University of Ottawa community (students, staff and alumni). It functions as a “thrift store” where everything is free for uOttawa community members.

By creating a space where anyone can drop off and pick up stuff for free, we hope to reduce consumption. We want to make sure that items have a second chance to be used before they go to the landfill or off for recycling.

This is an important program that supports uOttawa’s goal of becoming a zero-waste campus.

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Volunteers and visitors

197

volunteers

1 ,100

hours of service

10,000

visitors to the Free Store

Donation breakdown

An ensemble of items available at the Free Store

Each year, the uOttawa Free Store receives thousands of kilograms of material donations from the community. Clothing is the largest category of materials donated.

Electronics - 1%
Shoes - 1.6%
Miscellaneous - 3%
Office supplies 3.1%
Kitchen - 7%
Bedding - 7.8%
Books - 7.8%
Houseware - 9.5%
Clothing - 58.9%

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Value of goods distributed in 2025

Two students walk around the Free Store with items they have found

In 2023, we conducted an audit of the value of the materials collected. Using those numbers, we can estimate the annual value of goods distributed by the Free Store.

2025 - $1,615,904

2024 - $1,675,779

2023 - $2,329,672

2022 - $1,222,349

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Community service learning and events

A person holds up and item they found at the Free Store

The Free Store works with faculties and departments to offer a living laboratory experience. Participants learn about the social and environmental impacts of consumerism.