BOP at Western
Chapter Director
Founded in 2023, the UWO Chapter was established to bring the Bags of Promise mission to London, Ontario – a community experiencing growing rates of homelessness (19% since 2022 states a 2025 UWO Health Equity Report; source) alongside a large and engaged student population eager to make a meaningful difference outside of their University.
Since its first year, the chapter has grown into a dedicated community of students working to bridge the gap between young people experiencing homelessness and the resources, services, and basic necessities they deserve. Through our annual bag drive, engaging fundraisers, collaborative volunteer initiatives, and strategic community partnerships, the UWO Chapter has helped expand Bags of Promise’s reach while creating meaningful opportunities for students to turn their passion and drive into action.
Alejandra Covo
Impact in London
Founded 2023
First Bag Drive 2024
Students Involved 125+
Community Partners 23
Bags Delivered 138
Our Support
We have supported the Youth Opportunities Unlimited Shelter in London. We chose this shelter because it supports youth experiencing homelessness which aligns with Bags of Promises mission of supporting underprivileged youth. We have supported the shelters by responding to its specific, observed needs such as hygiene products, bus tickets, and non-perishable food items. Curating our bag drive to specifically respond to the needs expressed by the shelter is crucial to our team to ensure that our efforts are directly making a difference in the lives of youth experiencing homelessness within London.
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Impact in the Community
Our team at Western has successfully engaged students on campus, as well as individuals within the London community through exciting fundraising events that have allowed for the expansion of our executive team, volunteers and event participants. We have partnered with different locations in London such as SpinCO, BP8, Happiness Cafe, and more for fundraising events that ultimately allow for the execution of our April bag drive. Additionally, our team implemented a Community Outreach portfolio where we set up volunteer opportunities at places such as the London Food Bank, Kensington Village Retiring Home, and ArkAid to come together, supporting different populations within the London community. These efforts together have allowed us to gain exposure within our community and allow for the circulation of the Bags of Promises mission.
