SUNY Oswego’s SHOP (Students Helping Oz Peers) hosted Warm-Up Week Feb. 15-17 in hopes to provide students with proper winter clothing for no cost.

According to Helena Buttons, the SHOP coordinator, Warm-Up Week was a two part event that began over winter break.

“We did a drive for winter apparel in collaboration with SEFA [State Employee Federated Appeal],” Buttons said. “It was a three week drive and it ended up with us getting about $3500 worth of stuff donated, which was super awesome.”

Along with partnering with SEFA, Auxiliary Services also donated free hot chocolate for SHOP to giveaway during Warm-Up Week. 

SHOP took all the donated goods and gave them away for free Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Marano Campus Center. 

“We’re just trying to get winter apparel in the hands of students,” Buttons said. “We see a lot of stigma in terms of going to a food and clothing pantry, so we wanted to try and move it out of the clothing pantry to see if we could eliminate some of that pressure.”

Because of the stereotypes that may come with visiting a food or clothing pantry, Buttons said she was unsure how many students would take advantage of the program.

“We definitely exceeded my expectations,” Buttons said. “I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to pull people into the room, I wasn’t sure if people were going to be comfortable taking things. But it proved to be so much better than I could have ever imagined.”

SHOP is located in the basement of Penfield Library and provides “FREE non-perishable food, toiletries, sexual and reproductive health products and professional and winter apparel,” according to their website. 

In previous years, SHOP has hosted their events in their main pantry. Due to COVID-19, they began moving some events to other locations in order to have more space. By having Warm-Up Week in Marano, Buttons is hoping to see more student traffic. 

“I think just based off the location of [Warm-Up Week] being in a room where we can have more stuff and have it here for multiple days, I think we will get rid of a lot,” Buttons said. 

At the end of the week, Buttons said they had given away the majority of the donations.

“We had the most interaction we have ever had for an event,” Buttons said. “We ended up carrying only three boxes and we walked in with a lot more, so we are really, really happy with how things went.”

This is the first time SHOP has hosted Warm-Up Week, according to Buttons, but it was modeled after a similar event that took place a few years prior. 

“It was more of a tabling with some hats and gloves … take what you need sort of thing and it was one day,” Buttons said. “We have expanded it to include the drive and the three day giveaway. The idea was there, but we definitely blew it up bigger and made it more expansive to serve students.”

Buttons said her ultimate goal was to “put what students need in their hands.”

“You see people in sweatshirts,” Buttons said “The goal would be to get those people in sweatshirts in some winter coats and get gloves on hands [because] frostbite is real.”

Though this was the first year SHOP hosted Warm-Up Week, Buttons is hopeful it will continue and be an annual event.

“SHOP has only been around for five years,” Buttons said. “We don’t have a whole lot of traditions so I am excited to get to start them and leave that for the next SHOP coordinator and future employees of SHOP.”

The left over winter gear that was not taken during Warm-Up Week was taken to SHOP’s location in Penfield Library, where it will be given to students as usual. Buttons said they only do large scale giveaways in the beginning of the semester but SHOP is planning other events.

According to Buttons, SHOP will be collaborating with Counseling Outreach Peer Educators (COPE), club sports teams and Greek life throughout the spring semester. 

Buttons said she is excited to “continue to engage with users, volunteers and donors” for the rest of the year.

SHOP is open daily to all SUNY Oswego students, faculty and staff. For hours and more information about products and services, visit https://www.oswego.edu/student-affairs/students-helping-oz-peers-shop.

Annika Wickham | The Oswegonian