Oswego State opened the college’s first permanent food pantry on Nov. 1. The pantry, called S.H.O.P., Students Helping Oz Peers, is located in Room 3 in Penfield Library and is open Tuesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Fridays from noon to 3 p.m.
According to Angela Brown, the director of the Mary Walker Health Center, there has always been a small food pantry located in the counseling services center for students in need, but it was not very well known to students.
The idea to create a permanent food pantry at Oswego State came from a conversation between Dean of Students Jerri Howland and Student Association President Emily Nassir. According to Nassir, the two developed the idea during the 2015-2016 academic year and began gathering people from departments across campus throughout the year to form a committee, made up of Howland, Brown, Nassir, Counseling Services Center Director Katherine Wolfe-Lyga and Director of Campus Life Earnest Washington.
The pantry has nonperishable foods, toiletries and some winter clothes available to students. Those in need of supplies from the pantry are welcome to come in, no questions asked, fill out an intake form and take what they need. According to Nassir, there is no real concern that students will abuse the pantry.
“We need to trust that our students are responsible and respecting enough to not take advantage of a service that is meant to assist students in need,” Nassir said. “We do our best to ensure that students receiving items from S.H.O.P. really do need them, but in the end it comes down to honesty and integrity. It’s up to our students to uphold that honesty and integrity for the sake of our community.”
Nassir was the main student involved in the development of the pantry, but more students are currently involved as volunteers who staff the panty. Nassir said there is the potential for a student internship position at the pantry in the future.
According to the Oswego State website, $4,000 was raised in the spring of 2016 to start up the pantry. A majority of that money, nearly $3,200, was raised through SA’s Miss-a-Meal fundraiser. The Oswego College Foundation made a $710 donation.
Anyone who is able to can donate nonperishable foods, toiletries and winter clothing at the S.H.O.P. site. They can also bring their donations to Mary Walker Health Center, the Counseling Services Center and the Campus Life office. According to Nassir, the pantry is grateful for anything students are able to donate.
“How can you be successful if you can’t feed yourself?” Brown said. “There are truly students on this campus who have to choose between food and books, food and tuition, who really cannot afford a meal. Or they have to choose a meal plan where they only get one meal a day. I think it’s very beneficial to the campus because it is great to be able to help fellow students in need who are not as fortunate or do not have family support, whatever the situation is that has put them in this position.”
According to Brown, the committee picked hours when students are least likely to have classes. If a student needs to come to the pantry at a different time than the available hours, they should contact the pantry at shop@oswego.edu or 315-312-2446.
