SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach, a local charity and volunteer group, hosts a Thanksgiving themed lunch-in for low-income and homeless community members on Nov. 19, at the Hopps Memorial Church in Syracuse, N.Y.
“Thank God for waking up this morning and have something to eat,” said Marva Delee, a regular attendee of We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach events. “Some people don’t have nothing to eat, but you should think about that.”
Besides handing out Thanksgiving meals with all the fixings, they also gave away coats and cold weather attire to help during the winter.
“They give away stuff and have cookouts, and stuff like that,” said Delee. “I’m glad because some things I don’t have. I really appreciate that.”
Syracuse ranks number one for family poverty, with numbers showing over 40% of families living on below poverty level wages and almost 50% of children are being raised in these households, according to a 2020 five-year census estimates done by the U.S. Census Bureau. Besides this high number, We Rise Above the Street Recovery Outreach and its volunteers makes it their mission to aid those families in need.
“A lesson that everybody needs to carry with them is caring for your neighbors, caring for a stranger, being there for those that, you know, don’t have anyone there for them,” said Cadeejah Thompson, a volunteer. “Just spreading that love and generosity, I think that’s very important.”
We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach helps feed and aid over 1,500 people per year. The Thanksgiving event is one of the bigger events with over 50 volunteers participating to help run the event.
“The number one thing that you can offer these people, other than you know food or clothes, is just your time, your presence, smiling, interacting with them; and it’s really about civic participation,” said Thompson.
The volunteer group doesn’t just hold events on holidays though, We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach also gives away meals every Saturday for those in-need. For volunteer and donation information you can call (315) 491-7164.
