Samaritan Center Inc

TO SERVE FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED IN A CARING SETTING, AT NO CHARGE, TO COORDINATE EFFORTS OF VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE POOR AND HUNGRY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR MARKED A SECOND FULL YEAR OF OPERATIONS WITHIN A COVID ENVIRONMENT. SAMARITAN OPERATED AS A TAKE-OUT-MODEL WITHOUT INTERRUPTION AND HAS GRADUALLY SHIFTED TO OFFER LIMITED DINE-IN SEATING IN COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL HEALTH DIRECTIVES. SAMARITAN SERVED OVER 70,000 MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED WITH A STAFF OF 9 AND THE ASSISTANCE OF A DEDICATED GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 800 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ENSURING SERVICE CONTINUED. MEALS CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED TWICE A DAY, WITHOUT QUESTIONS OR PRE-CONDITIONS. WE ANTICIPATE A RETURN TO FULL SIT-DOWN MEALS ON OUR TRADITIONAL CHINA PLATES, WITH FLATWARE AND CERAMIC COFFEE MUGS IN EARLY FALL. WE ARE GRADUALLY SEEING THE RETURN OF THE COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE OF SAMARITAN AND THE RENEWAL OF RELATIONSHIPS AS GUESTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WELCOME OLD AND NEW FRIENDS BACK INTO THE BUILDING TO DINE. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TAKE-HOME FOOD RESOURCES FOR GUESTS TO TAKE HOME- FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY AND CANNED GOODS ESPECIALLY, PROVIDING INCREASED FOOD RESOURCES FOR OUR GUESTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE SAW AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS SKY-ROCKETING INFLATION NEGATIVELY IMPACTED PURCHASING POWER. AS COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFTED, OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORTS DURING THIS PERIOD FOCUSED ON ASSISTING OUR GUESTS WITH ACCESSING EMPLOYMENT AND MANAGING A WAVE OF EVICTIONS THAT FOLLOWED AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IN PLACE THROUGHOUT COVID. SAMARITAN CENTER HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH A STRONG COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONATED GOODS- THE CONTINUATION OF SERVICES DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF SO MANY.