Rescue Mission honors Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

The Syracuse Rescue Mission hosted an open house this Wednesday in light of Hunger and Homelessness Week to educate the community on the problems of hunger and homelessness in Syracuse.

A simple lunch of soup, salad, bread sticks, and rolls were served to the nearly fifty people that arrived. Executive Director Chasz Parker spoke on the increasing meals the rescue mission has served in the past two years. Their numbers indicate that in the typical week lunches have risen from 600 meals served to 650, and they’ve served 8,000 more meals than they served last year.

Parker says the struggling economy is to blame. With more pressure to make ends meet, families will come down to the mission just to have a full dinner served to them.

The open house also featured a tour of the mission, where members of the community could tour the campus of the Rescue Mission. Little known to many, the Mission even has a thrift shop, where 99 percent of their clothes are given away for free. The most an item will cost is two dollars.

Parker says the mission has even seen an increase in stay overs at the shelter, with beds full nearly every night.

JoAnn Lloyd of Liverpool, a new volunteer at the organization, said she thought the open house was very informative. She said she joined the Mission when she lost her job. Since then, her perspective has changed about her own circumstance.

“I’m already feeling better about my own situation. Everyday… I thank God for hot water, I thank him for heat, I thank him for.. and to see that video.. they’re out there in the snow.. I don’t feel bad about me anymore at all.”

Watch the video here: