SHOP (Students Helping Oz Peers), the student-run food and clothing pantry on campus, will host Warm-Up Week from February 15 to 17. 

The event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day in 133 Marano Campus Center, will give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to visit SHOP for winter wear, including coats, boots, gloves, hats and scarves. These items will be free of charge for those on campus who need them. 

Senior Helena Buttons, the current SHOP coordinator, wanted to revamp the event after it had taken a hiatus due to the pandemic. The event this year also features a drive which allows individuals to donate by dropping off items at SHOP during its operating hours or by contacting SHOP at shop@oswego.edu to set up a direct donation. Items should be new or gently used and laundered if possible. 

“We have a lot of winter attire at SHOP that I don’t think people know about,” Buttons said. “There is also a stigma associated with coming down into SHOP, so our goal is to get our stuff out of the basement of Penfield and in front of the campus community.” 

Thanks to donations from Auxiliary Services, there will be hot chocolate at the event for anyone who stops by. SEFA (State Employees Federated Appeal) also recently concluded a winter clothing drive for SHOP’s Warm-Up Week.

“Staff and faculty are so willing to engage with us,” Buttons said. “They help us spread awareness about food insecurity and help get us in touch with people we need to be in contact with.”

SHOP at SUNY Oswego

SHOP, the first campus food pantry in the SUNY system, opened in 2016. While it may be the first of its kind in SUNY, it is addressing a widespread need that impacts all college students.

“There has been a national recognition of food insecurity in college students because we are low-income or no-income people,” Buttons said. “For example, people who live off campus –- their part time jobs are just paying for rent. It doesn’t necessarily also pay for food.”

Buttons notes that statistics recently show that approximately 50 percent of two-to-four year college students experience food insecurity at some point in their college career. 

SHOP has an abundance of resources beyond food. SHOP also has professional clothing, winter clothing, sexual and reproductive health products and toiletries. 

“Students will have job interviews and can’t just go to a store to buy a blazer and we have it ready to go,” Buttons said. “We also see a high need for toiletries. It’s one of those things that you don’t think about, but when you’re suddenly out of shampoo? That’s a big issue. We also see toilet paper and razors fly off of our shelves.” 

SHOP is located in the basement of Penfield Library to the right of the elevator and is open during the semester: 

  • Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m.
  • Fridays, 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you are interested in donating to SHOP or volunteering, contact SHOP at shop@oswego.edu