SYRACUSE -- A local soup kitchen is serving a record number of meals these days with many more hungry mouths to feed.
The Samaritan Center of Syracuse says it's served more than 10% additional meals this year and the numbers continue to climb. Now, the agency needs your help.
The Samaritan Center is located in the basement of St. Paul's Cathedral in downtown Syracuse. It feeds an average of 350 hot meals a day to those in need. Over the last month, it's watched the number dramatically increase. In fact, for the first time since it opened its doors in the early 1980's, the center surpassed its record number of meals, serving more than 10,000 in the month of August alone. That's about 20 percent more meals than served the same time last year.
"People are really struggling to survive in a difficult economy, more and more we are seeing working families making difficult choices between food and rent, food and utilities and needing our community's soup kitchens and pantries to make it through." Mary Beth Frey, Executive Director of The Samaritan Center.
The poverty numbers are startling. According to the Children's Defense Fund, an agency that tracks hunger and poverty statistics in New York State, more than 1 in 4 people live in poverty in Syracuse right now and more than 1 in 8 people live in poverty in Onondaga County.
To meet the growing need, The Samaritan Center is asking for donations.
"The Samaritan Center is a purely local organization, it continues only because of the kindness and generosity of local individuals and businesses. Our resources are clearly being stretched with the increase in need but we are hopeful that the community will continue to offer its support for those struggling." Frey said.
The center also publishes a "wish list" of items in need. Click here to make a donation or call (315) 472-0650.
