‘This is a hard time:’ Syracuse church hands out meals, bags of Thanksgiving food to help struggling families

Syracuse, N.Y. - Dozens of Syracuse families and individuals stopped by the Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Syracuse Saturday morning for the church’s annual Community Care Day.

While in past years people could stop by for a free breakfast, this year they had the opportunity get a warm brunch and stock up on food in preparation for their Thanksgiving dinners.

The church’s Youth Director Sandy Sims led a group of 40 volunteers who served brunch and handed out groceries to over 175 homeless people, low-income families and college students in need. All of the food was bought using donations from people and businesses from around Central New York.

The decision to hand out groceries this year was motivated by rising food costs and the loss of SNAP benefits for many Syracuse families, Sims said.

“This is a hard time for many of us,” Sims said. “Working class, as well as those who are less fortunate.”

Volunteers served an array of breakfast dishes, including eggs, pancakes and hashbrowns at the church at 317 E. Jefferson St. After people grabbed their meals, they were handed food packages that came with their choice of a turkey, chicken or ham.

“We decided to take some of those donations that we received and bought extra turkeys and food bags,” Sims said. “I was happy to know that they could just walk in, get their meal, pick up a bag and go.”

After grabbing brunch, people also stopped by the church’s food pantry and stocked up on essential grocery items and non-perishable foods.

“Everybody pitched in and donated canned goods and different things as well to go into the packages,” Sims said. “And they came down and volunteered.”

Sims, who turns 66 years old next month, said she worked the last three weeks planning the event. She also spent the entire day before cooking food at home to bring to the church for those who stopped by.

“My oven was going from seven o’clock yesterday morning to seven o’clock this morning,” she said. “I would pull out one turkey, stick in a ham, and stick in some cornbread and stuffing. We just kept it going.”

While the event was supposed to start at 11 a.m., volunteers let in people before then who told them they were hungry and needed food.

“We opened the door and just said, ‘let them in,’” Sims said. “I’m glad we did it, because it gives a reality to our young people that were here that this is a hard time for many people, and we have to in this community just try to support each other.”

For Sims, the volunteer work was a family affair. Several of her siblings, kids and grandkids came by to pitch in, including her sister who traveled all the way up from Atlanta, Georgia.

But to her, those types of bonds are also found with the volunteers she worked alongside in helping feed her community.

“We really are family when we speak of the church as well,” she said. “This is the usual crew that comes out and makes it happen.”