Samaritan Center Inc

Samaritan Center is a nonprofit 501c3, interfaith effort of community members committed to serving the hungry and those in need in order to promote their welfare, dignity and self-sufficiency. For over 41 years, Samaritan Center has worked to fight hunger in the greater Syracuse community by providing nutritious hot meals to anyone in need 7 days a week – no questions asked. Paired with these meals is the case management support and access to services that help guests move on to a more positive future.

THE 2018-2019 FISCAL YEAR MARKED THE SAMARITAN CENTER'S FOURTH YEAR OF OPERATION AT ITS NEW FACILITY AT THE FORMER ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH ON THE CITY'S NORTH-SIDE. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, WE SERVED OVER 140,000 MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED. OUR NEW LOCATION CONTINUES TO ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR CASEMANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES, ALLOWING US TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT BRING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN POVERTY TO OUR DOOR. SAMARITAN CENTER CONTINUES TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE THAT COME TO US IN NEED, PROVIDING THE LINKAGES, REFERRALS AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO MOVE TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OUR CASEMANAGER AND SUPPORT SERVICES TEAM ASSISTED MORE THAN 268 INDIVIDUALS WITH ISSUES SUCH AS SHELTER, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT AND ACCESS TO SERVICES, WHILE AN ADDITIONAL 1532 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH AGENCIES COORDINATED ON SITE TO EASE ACCESS TO SNAP, DISABILITY SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND HEALTH CARE. A MONTHLY DIAPER DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CNY DIAPER BANK. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM REGISTERED FAMILIES RECEIVE 50 DIAPERS PER MONTH PER ENROLLED CHILD TO ASSIST WITH CHILD CARE NEEDS. WE HAVE PAIRED THIS DISTRIBUTION WITH ON SITE AGENCIES ACCESS TO SERVICES TARGETED TO YOUNG FAMILIES, SUCH AS HEALTHY FAMILIES, WIC, HUNTINGTON FAMILY CENTER, HEALTHY FAMILIES AND THE ONONDAGA COUNTY LEAD ABATEMENT PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVE A MEAL DURING DISTRIBUTION AND PARENTS ARE ABLE TO RELAX AND CONNECT AS THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN A CRAFT OR READING ACTIVITY FACILITATED BY SAMARITAN STAFF. OVER 93 CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, A NUMBER CAPPED BY THE CNY DIAPER BANK. OUR MY PLACE PROGRAM CONTINUES, WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TRANSITIONING INTO INDEPENDENT HOUSING, TYPICALLY FROM SHELTER, ARE ASSISTED WITH BASIC ESSENTIALS SUCH AS SHEETS, PILLOWS, DISHES, POTS AND PANS, TOWELS AND SHEETS. THROUGH THESE BASIC NEEDS, AND THE ACCOMPANYING REFERRALS FOR FURNITURE AND OTHER SUPPORT NEEDS, THIS SIGNIFICANT MOVE TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY CAN BE CELEBRATED AS A POSITIVE NEXT STEP RATHER THAN WHAT, WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM, IS TYPICALLY A MOVE INTO AN EMPTY SPACE WITH NO BELONGINGS. THIS MY PLACE "STARTER BOX" HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BEGIN TO MAKE A HOME OUT OF FOUR EMPTY WALLS. 93 BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. OUR BASIC NEEDS CLOSET RUNS TWICE A WEEK, PROVIDING BASIC HYGIENE ITEMS, SOAP, SHAMPOO, TOILET PAPER, ETC., FOR OUR GUESTS TO ENSURE THE DIGNITY OF SELF-CARE. THESE ITEMS ARE UNABLE TO BE PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS AND TYPICALLY UNAVAILABLE AT LOCAL CORNER STORES AT REASONABLE PRICES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 8,675 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH THIS RESEOURCE. WE WERE ALSO PLEASED TO HOST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROJECT AND THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT, A TWO PART EDUCATIONAL SERIES FOCUSED ON TENANTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES- PREPARING OUR GUESTS WITH THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO GOOD DECISIONS AS THEY SIGN ONTO A LEASE AND LOOK TO MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY.