people across the country are responding to the challenge. Like these youth in Syracuse who volunteer to distribute food to vulnerable families.
“The people that struggling and they can’t ask for help because of the language barrier”
Most of these people are refugees and immigrants who do not have jobs. Some lost them due to the COVID -19. Yerowh and his colleagues show up every Saturday to give out food, motivated by one thing.
“Since I was young, I always wanted to help others and make the days and make like whoever is in need, just give the hand if I’m capable of giving it.
The youth determine the most vulnerable families in their communities. The families are registered, and they would receive food. But sometimes even unregistered people show up because they too have no food.
“We ask the same questions that we asked in the people that we called them and if they require that, we just give it to them. Even though they show up we have to give them badge because the reason they come here because they need the food”
Those who are unable to come to the distribution center, their food is delivered at their doorstep
While these youth rises to the challenge, engaging in their civic duty, others donate money including those who do not need the stimulus they received.
“Grants from the CNY community foundation, the air foundation and some other people. Many individuals have contributed to this effort”
Since the start of the initiative, called North Side learning center COVID-19 outreach and response, not only is food given but also personal protective equipment and COVID-19 information resources.
“We probably provided going close to two hundred thousand different meals over the last Ten weeks”
A family receives food that will last two weeks after which they can return for more.
Scopas Bethuel NCC News
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Families in Syracuse are receiving food from a local group to help them cope with the consequence of COVID -19. Most of these families are refugees and immigrants who either do not have jobs or loss them due to the pandemic.
Yusuf Soule, president of the board of directors of North Side Learning Center said the initiative is a collaboration between North Side Learning Center and Masjid Isa Ibn Maryam. The initiative is called North Side Learning Center COVID -19 outreach and response. It is made possible by funding from the CNY Community Foundation,Allyn Family Foundation, and other individuals.
“A lot of people have lost their jobs and we just needed, the first thing we have to do is to start providing food to people,” Soule said.
It is not only food being given out, but masks and other safety equipment, including COVID -19 information resources
The youth from the communities volunteer to distribute food to the families. They also determine families that are vulnerable who are then registered and given food.
Hussein Yerowh, one of the youth leaders, said they move in the communities with checklists.
“There are people struggling and yet they can’t ask because of the language barrier,” Yerowh said.
Those registered families come to the center for the food, but sometimes even the unregistered also show up.
“We have to give them badge because the reason they come here is because they need the food,” Yerowh said.
Each family receives food that will last two weeks, after which they can return for more.
