SUNY Oswego’s SHOP (Student Helping Oz Peers) pantry is expanding its reach, opening in the university’s Syracuse Campus and offering even more help to adult learners.
SHOP’s Syracuse operation is available to every student, from 3 to 8 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. Student teachers and international students make up most of the population served.
“Whenever people pick up stuff, we don’t ask who it’s for. We saw a mom once taking Goldfish and applesauce,” said Sarah Nagle, instructional support assistant at Oswego’s Syracuse Campus and a driving force behind the new location.
SHOP now has people to help students apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) benefits. “The Central New York Food Bank helps our students apply for SNAP, and National Grid helps with HEAP applications,” Nagle said. HEAP allows people with demonstrated financial need to save on their National Grid utility bills.
Due to the element of confidentiality, Syracuse’s SHOP offers a secluded location. Their one requirement for picking up items is to have an Oswego email address. “If somebody cannot make it, they can reach out to me and I’ll help them get what they need outside of hours,” said Nagle.
Easing burdens
“SHOP has helped ease the financial burden of managing daily necessities while being a full-time graduate student. It allows me to focus more on my studies without worrying as much about affording groceries or personal care items,” said Macha Keerthana, a graduate student at Oswego’s Syracuse Campus.
SHOP, run through the Office of the Dean of Students, also has offered additional services beyond non-perishable food items, such as harm reduction kits as well as personal items and reproductive health products.
“If you can’t afford something, come take it,” Nagle said. “There is no negativity around such a thing. It doesn’t say anything about you as a person. If there are resources, use them.”
In addition, student teachers are welcome to take supplies with them to get their classrooms started.
After running a basic needs assessment, “Above 70 percent of our student population were experiencing unmet basic needs,” said Nagle.
Those interested in supporting SHOP in downtown Syracuse can bring items to 2 South Clinton St. in Syracuse, donate through an Amazon Wish List or make a secure online monetary donation.
Nagle set up an internship through the Office of Experiential Learning to offer students an opportunity to help. One of their responsibilities is to make sure people know it is there.
An international student inspired the initiative. “They told me when they first arrived here they didn’t have anything to cook with, so they took the public bus from Syracuse to Oswego. Then took all their stuff back down,” said Nagle.
Nagle went on to encourage the opening of SHOP in Syracuse so that no student would have to make that trip to get their basic needs met.
“Sometimes it is hard to ask for help or even feel like you’re deserving of it. It is hard for everyone right now, especially hard for young adults and if you’re paying for school,” said Nagle.
SHOP in Syracuse scheduled an official grand opening at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, to celebrate and promote its valuable resources.
Meanwhile, Oswego’s campus SHOP remains available in the lower level of Penfield Library, Mondays through Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. The pantry offers food, toiletries, clothing and help applying for benefits. For more information, visit the Oswego SHOP website.
–- Written by Gianna Cowell of the Class of 2026