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An array of SHOP donation items

SHOP

Community Resources: Central New York Food Finder , Oswego Mobile Food Pantry , SNAP Benefits Calculator

Lending a Helping Hand

Students Helping Oz Peers —or SHOP for short—opened its pantry in October 2016 as the first student-run food and clothing pantry within the SUNY system. It provides students, faculty, and staff with FREE non-perishable food, toiletries, sexual and reproductive health products, and professional and winter apparel. SHOP is a collaborative effort between on and off campus partners who recognize the need to address food insecurity on our campus. SHOP is located in the basement of Penfield Library to the right of the elevator.

How To Get To Shop

Once you go through the front doors of Penfield Library, you will want to head to the back of the building where there is a sign that says elevator. Once in the elevator, select the button for the basement floor. Exit the elevator, turn to the right and look for the sign that says SHOP!

How it Works

This is a walk-in and confidential. No appointments required.

If this is your first time using SHOP please fill out our new users form.

You can place orders online via our SHOP Pick-up Form. Orders will be filled within 48 hours and placed at the Online Orders table in the front of SHOP. You can pick up these orders during SHOP's open hours. If you need to pick them up outside of those hours, contact [email protected].

Spring 2023 Hours

We will be closed during Spring Break. If anyone needs to access SHOP’s services during this time, March 13-18, please contact the Office of The Dean of Students to get information on locations to pick up bags of food. We will open our regular hours on Monday the 20th.

Monday through Friday: 3:30-6:30pm
Saturday: By appointment ONLY (email [email protected] to make an appointment at least 1 day in advance)

Illustration of a yellow bag with the words "SHOP, Students Helping Oz Peers" on the front. A sock is folded over the top of the bag, and a can of peas and toothbrush are in front of the bag.

Give Time and Take Action 

We are now accepting volunteers for the Spring 2023 semester. Interested volunteers can fill out the SHOP volunteer form and it will be directed to our Volunteer Coordinator, Red.

Volunteering offers vital help to the campus community. Through volunteering you can make new connections, achieve personal goals, practice using your skills, and discover hidden talents.

Volunteer responsibilities include:

  • Providing services to students
  • Assisting with donation drives
  • Organizing donation items

Make a Donation

Email [email protected] to set up a donation of non-perishable food or other items. Donations can also be brought to SHOP during open hours. Please do not drop off at the library desk or leave items outside of SHOP!

Monetary Donations

Cash donations are accepted during regular business hours at the Auxiliary Services office, 506 Culkin Hall.

You can also donate online by making a one time gift or scheduling ongoing donations.

What SHOP Has To Offer

Thanks to generous donations, SHOP has a wide variety of items to offer the campus community.

We Accept

  •  
  • Non-perishable foods
  • Toiletries
  • Winter clothing (coats, hats/gloves, scarves and lightly used boots)
  • Business/Professional attire (lightly used slacks, blazers, suits, ties, and button-down long sleeve)
  • School supplies
  • Laundry detergent
  • Paper towels

We Do Not Accept

  •  
  • Bed sheets, bed toppers, pillows
  • Mattresses
  • Carpets, bath mats, towels
  • Underwear/undergarments
  • Socks, worn shoes
  • Cribs, car seats
  • Weapons
  • Razors
  • Perishable/expired foods
  • Snack Foods
  • Alcohol
  •  
  •  
  •  

We Currently Need

Food: 

  • Cereal
  • Canned soup
  • Canned meat (Tuna, chicken, etc.)
  • Peanutbutter and jelly/jam
  • Ramen
  • Pasta & pasta sauce

Toiletries: 

  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash
  • Paper towels 

Our Impact

733 Users for Fall 2022

528 Unique users for Fall 2022

1,343 Total uses from Spring 2022-Fall 2022

Please donate items or funds, or be a student volunteer! 

Studies show that approximately half of two-year and four-year students are food insecure. Together, we can help meet this need on our campus.

Campus Events

A student volunteer organizing clothes on a rack for SHOP

Clothing Drives

Instead of discarding surplus clothing, you can now give them a second life. The clothing drive allows business and Winter clothing items to be reworn and given new purpose for the good of our cause and planet.

Thanksgiving Food Bag 2022 advertisement

Bags

For Thanksgiving break, The SHOP offers customized bags for those who need a little extra hand during the holidays. Email [email protected] to receive a bag request form, then pick up your bag before Thanksgiving. Gluten-free bags are available!

Two students outside a van, showcasing large boxes that will be filled with donations to SHOP

Cram The Van!

A campus-wide and week-long competitive food drive between buildings to fill an Oswego van with non-perishable food items. Johnson Hall was the winner in November 2021. Who will be this year's winner?

A box of Cheerios, cans of soup and other food items that can be found in SHOP

Taste of Home

What is your favorite go-to, quick and easy meal recipe you'd love to share with others? Our new Taste of Home program will bring a new easy-to-make recipe every week that students can cook in their residence halls or kitchens with various SHOP products. 

Recipe Submission Form

Thank You, Donors and Volunteers

Since 2016, Students Helping Oz Peers (SHOP) has been helping SUNY Oswego students, faculty, and staff to fight food insecurity on our campus. We have supplied people with non-perishable food, toiletries, sexual and reproductive health products, winter and professional attire and more, completely free of charge! On behalf of the Advisory Board, Staff, and users of SHOP, we thank the many donors and volunteers who have given goods, money, or time to SHOP to make this possible. Thank you!

SHOP & Swap

Our “SHOP & Swap” event encourages people to swap out their gently used clothing and update to something more professional. This will help anyone looking to boost or change out their professional attire on a limited budget. We want to help break the stigma of using second-hand shops when you’re in need of professional clothing for important life events. At SHOP, we also hope to create a safe and welcoming environment for those in need.

(Video clip provided by WTOP)

The Auxiliary Services team with some of their donations in SHOP

Donor Spotlight

We want to thank Auxiliary Services for their generous donations. We are able to give back to those in need on our campus because of donations like yours! Thank you!

“True joy is never fully experienced, until one has practiced the art of giving.”

Doris Eziako

“Shop has given me the chance to keep give back, continue to open my eyes, and allow me to see the good in people.”

Samia Montgomery

"Volunteering at SHOP has allowed me to interact with people from all walks of life."

Danielle

"SHOP has given me a new outlook on the community, and realizing the importance of unity within the people here in Oswego."

Jincy George

"I like to pay it forward to the community where with a simple act of kindness, we can change the person's world. There's no better place to do it than being part of SHOP."

Bryan Palacios

Visit Us

3 Penfield Library
In the basement, to the right of the elevator.
See How to Get to SHOP

Contact Us

Phone: 315-312-2446
Email: [email protected]

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