From now until Monday, Nov. 18, the SHOP (Student Helping Oz Peers) pantry and Empire State Service Corps members will collect for a food drive supporting Thanksgiving basket distribution. 

There are five drop-off locations for the food drive where students, faculty and staff can leave donations, including the lobbies of Culkin Hall and Penfield Library; The Point (room 131) and The Compass (145) in Marano Campus Center; and the CSTEP Office (398) in Shineman. 

The items collected through the drive will go towards the pantry’s inventory located in the basement of Penfield Library (room 3). Traditional and vegetarian-style Thanksgiving baskets will then be assembled for students who are staying on campus over break or anyone who might want one during the week leading into Thanksgiving. 

The food drive and baskets are coordinated by Empire State Service Corps members Izzy Ronacher and Malik Hills to bring awareness to Hunger and Homelessness Week (Nov. 17 to 23). Assistant Dean of Students, Basic Needs Case Manager and Homeless Liaison April Lopez is a large part of this effort as well.

Launched as part of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.’s commitment to increasing service opportunities for students across the state, the Empire State Service Corps is in its first year of providing paid opportunities for students like Ronacher and Hills to make a positive impact on their campuses and communities.

Lopez is a newcomer to campus in a new position at SUNY Oswego that represents an expansion to meet increased student needs. Lopez previously worked as Iowa State University’s food security and basic needs specialist.

Lopez finds SUNY Oswego has an admirable amount of support for its students in terms of helping with their basic needs.

“The campus has catered and focused programs more on support for their students,” said Lopez. “There is more cross-collaboration and more push to broaden investments here.”

Lopez also has said that she would like SHOP to have more collaborations in the future and more input from campus so that students can benefit from the programs in additional ways and feel comfortable coming down to the pantry.

“Sometimes coming to a pantry or asking for help can feel scary or even shameful, but we want students to know it’s okay to come get the things you need,” said Lopez. 

At the end of October, they hosted “Little SHOP of Horrors,” an event that allowed students to come down to SHOP and participate in a scavenger hunt, seed game and make candied apples. SHOP also hosts pop-up tables in the residence halls to get students more comfortable in getting basic necessities. 

Looking ahead, Lopez would like to expand the pantry to include items such as cooking utensils and tools for students and urges feedback on what students think would benefit or help them the most.

SHOP will also host a coat drive in collaboration with Intercollegiate Athletics towards the end of the semester. The first event on Nov. 22 will take place during the women’s hockey game at 3 p.m. and men’s hockey game at 7 p.m., both in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall in Marano Campus Center. The other coat drive will happen on Dec. 3 during the women’s basketball game at 5 p.m. and the men's basketball game at 7:30 p.m., both in the Max Ziel Gymnasium in Laker Hall. 

For more information on these upcoming events or how to access SHOP services, students can visit the SHOP Website or email shop@oswego.edu.

–- Written by Leila LaJoie of the Class of 2024