Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Rescue Mission needs help filling Thanksgiving dinner requests this year.
The agency, which has for decades fed thousands at Thanksgiving, has seen an unprecedented increase in dinner orders for this year.
Last year, the nonprofit that offers services to Syracuse’s homeless and struggling delivered 2,500 meals last year. This year, there have been 3,900 requests and there are still two more weeks for people to put in their orders, said Dan Sieburg, CEO of the Rescue Mission.
The agency is asking for monetary and food donations to help meet the need.
Without it, the organization will not be able to meet the growing demand for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, Sieburg said.
“For those facing hunger and hardship, a holiday meal can be a powerful reminder that they’re not alone,” Sieburg said.
He said that the loss of SNAP benefits has been contributing to the increase.
People can donate money, food or their time to help pack the Rescue Mission meals and deliver them.
- Monetary Donations: Financial contributions help cover the cost of ingredients and supplies that are not donated. Contact: MacKenzie Naum at Mackenzie.Naum@RMSyr.org
- Food Donations: The Rescue Mission needs turkeys, potatoes, and frozen pies. Contact: Olivia Watson at Olivia.Watson@RMSyr.org
- Volunteer Opportunities: Register to deliver meals on Thanksgiving through the Rescue Mission’s website
