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.

DURING 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, SAMARITAN SERVED OVER 108,000 MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED. THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS AN APPROXIMATE 25% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF 9 STAFF AND THE ASSISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 1500 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS A MONTH, INCLUDING 238 COMMUNITY GROUPS ASSISTING IN MEAL SERVICE. MEALS CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED TWICE A DAY, WITHOUT QUESTIONS OR PRE-CONDITIONS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TAKE-HOME FOOD RESOURCES FOR GUESTS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE- FRESH PRODUCE, AND CANNED GOODS ESPECIALLY, PROVIDING INCREASED FOOD RESOURCES FOR OUR GUESTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO MEALS, 142 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WITH ISSUES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE MISUSE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, BENEFITS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2024 OVER 41 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVED OUTCOMES SUCH AS OBTAINING OR MAINTAINING STABLE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT OR BENEFITS. A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FOR OUR POPULATION IS THE LACK OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY- OFTEN SLOWING THE TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS OR FORCING A MOVE INTO SUBSTANDARD HOUSING. SAMARITAN IS PLANNING TO EXPAND ITS CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DURING 2024-2025, ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN OUR GUESTS' JOURNEY TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE UP AND OPERATIONAL BY FALL OF 2024. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 1053 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH COMMUNITY AGENCY OUTREACH ON SITE, EASING ACCESS TO AND LINKING GUESTS WITH NECESSARY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS US TO COORDINATE WITH RATHER THAN DUPLICATE SERVICES ALREADY EXISTING IN THE COMMUNITY. OVER 10,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH OUR BASIC NEEDS CLOSET WITH ITEMS SUCH AS SHAMPOO, SOAP AND TOILET PAPER, OVER 1200 CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH FREE DIAPERS THROUGH OUR MONTHLY DIAPER DISTRIBUTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CNY DIAPER BANK AND 39 INDIDVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH MY PLACE BOXES- PROVIDING ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR THOSE MOVING INTO APARTMENTS FROM SHELTER OR UNFIT HOUSING. WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS SKY-ROCKETING INFLATION NEGATIVELY IMPACTED PURCHASING POWER, FOR OUR GUESTS AND FOR THE ORGANIZATION.