SYRACUSE -- On Sunday, February 14, The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area will be collecting donations of food and funds from fans as they enter the Carrier Dome for the SU Men's Basketball Game against Louisville.

Food items collected before the game will be used in the Salvation Army's pantry and monetary donations will allow us to continue to shelter record numbers of families in need. Many of the families seeking assistance from The Salvation Army have never before found themselves in need. This special food and monetary drive will help us obtain the necessary resources to be able to serve the tremendous increase in need right here in our community.

"Fighting poverty, hunger, and homelessness in this community has been our work for 127 years. The level of need that we are seeing continues to grow. Our Food Pantry is one of the few that is open five days a week and serves people from all over Onondaga County. We are serving more and more families in crisis," says Major Dave Champlin, Area Coordinator. "We are grateful for the steadfast support that we receive from Coach Boeheim, Syracuse University's Athletic Department, and terrific SU fans who make it possible for us to respond to neighbors in crisis 365 days a year."

The Salvation Army served more than 38,000 people in Onondaga County last year through 40 local programs. The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area continues to be one of the largest and most comprehensive human service organizations in Central New York.

Information courtesy Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area