Others
Inside this Issue
Help Keep Our Doors Open
When reading about the nights of shelter we provide, or the number of children in our day care, or the thousands of meals distributed through our pantry, it is important to remember the almost 200 employees who make those services happen. Some are on the front lines, providing direct care and support to more than 35,000 individuals each year. Some are behind the scenes, paying our bills, caring for our buildings, or collaborating with community partners.
Our staff work to make the mission of The Salvation Army come alive—meeting human needs without discrimination in hundreds of different ways every single day. We are blessed to have a team of employees that care deeply about the people in our community who need physical, emotional, or spiritual support to overcome the situations they face.
In this post-COVID world, many businesses are struggling to fill their open positions, reducing hours to cope with staffing shortages. Human services agencies like The Salvation Army are facing staffing challenges as well. Contracts have not kept pace with the rising costs of wages and benefits. The work has become more complex, as the number of children, youth and adults with mental health, substance abuse, and trauma has skyrocketed.
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Syracuse Area Services | SASYR.ORG | Volume 44, Number 2 | Summer 2023
Letter From Executive Director Linda Lopez
Emergency Food Pantry
Staff Q & A
Emergency Food Pantry Needs Your Help
Food insecurity continues to be a growing concern in the community, and as a result, The Salvation Army of Syracuse has seen a significant increase in demand (25%) at the Emergency Food Pantry. In April alone, the pantry served 372 more individuals, and 5,000 more meals than in April 2022.
The Salvation Army of Syracuse remains committed to serving those in need, but we can’t do it alone. The best way to help is to make a donation of any amount, or by donating non perishable food items directly to the Emergency Food Pantry.
The items most needed at this time:
pasta sauce
Our food pantry, like many of our programs, relies heavily on volunteers to meet the growing needs of our community. To become a regular volunteer at the Food Pantry, call Samantha Miller at 345-479-3666 or scan the QR code to fill out a volunteer interest form.
Year to Date in 2023, Food Pantry has served:
4,866 INDIVIDUALS
juice
canned tuna or chicken
But for organizations like The Salvation Army, reducing hours is not an option. If we close early, homeless families have nowhere to go, runaway youth lose their safe haven, working parents don’t have childcare, and people who are hungry don’t have food.
Despite the challenges, Salvation Army staff keep showing up ready to help, ready to serve, and ready to provide the gift of hope to hurting people. As you read the stories of Chandra and Jason and why they choose to serve at The Salvation Army, remember that there are another 200 stories we could tell.
Some of you may be looking for a way to make a difference in our community. We have full and part-time positions open in both
72,990 MEALS
program areas and administrative support areas. There are many positions that are the perfect fit for people with a heart to help who may not have education or experience in human services.
Maybe volunteering once a week in one of our programs is a way you could support our mission. Maybe you want to organize a food or personal care drive at your company, or in your neighborhood, or ring kettles during the Christmas season.
Thank you for your support of The Salvation Army—together we make a difference.
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Letter From Executive Director Linda Lopez
rice canned fruit cereal
Staff Q & A
Chandra Smith Director of Early Childhood Education Services
What she does:
I provide oversite to two Office of Children and Family Services, Licensed Child Care Centers and a drop-in center at the Onondaga County Family Courts. I provide management support to the Directors of the childcare centers in their daily program operations, maintaining compliance with collaborations and funders (such as the Office of Head Start for Early Head Start services, PEACE, Inc. for Head Start services, the Syracuse City School District for Universal Prekindergarten services).
Was this always your career path?
I graduated from college thinking I would become a high school English teacher because I loved to read, however God had another plan and my first job after graduation was in a childcare center. I loved working with young children and never left the field.
Why The Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army has allowed me to do the things I love while growing my professional abilities. The atmosphere here is family oriented, and everyone is compassionate about their work. It is rewarding to work with people that strive to make a difference in the lives of others.
Best part of your job
I love to read to the children and engage in play when I visit. I also love working with the team of directors and teachers. It is great to plan for the program and see it all come together due to their dedication and passion for others.
Jason Powers Supervisor, Children and Family Treatment and Support Services
What he does:
We provide various mental health services, in the home and community, to the most vulnerable population of children and their families throughout Onondaga county.
Was this always your career path?
No, not until the last decade or so of my life. I struggled in my youth growing up in Syracuse, and I got into a lot of trouble in my teenage years. My family and I were always poor, and my mother and sister ended up in The Salvation Army Family Shelter at one point. I was eighteen at this time, and part of what was then called the Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP), another Salvation Army program (now Barnabas House). In many ways, The Salvation Army saved my family. I received my GED and have held steady employment since being a part of this program, and both my mother and sister are thriving. After working in other industries, I finally decided to go to college in my late twenties. A friend of mine encouraged me to apply for an assistant teaching position, something that I never considered as a career option, which set me on my current path. Teaching gave me a glimpse back into my own childhood, and I knew that my passion was to help young people get the mental health support that I needed as a child.
Why The Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army gave my family the support we needed in our darkest time, and I jumped at the opportunity to help others in the community I grew up in. I always remembered the people working for the Army treating us with dignity and respect, and I wanted to be a part of that.
Best part of your job
Creating meaningful relationships with families and watching them become successful, happy, and secure.
To volunteer in one of our programs visit sasyr.org or scan the QR Code
Volunteering is a great way to support our mission.
facebook.com/SalArmySyr twitter.com/SalArmySyr instagram.com/SalArmySyr e Salvation Army of Syracuse, NY To donate or to become a monthly donor visit sasyr.org or scan the QR Code Help keep our doors open by becoming a monthly donor.
the world to remind them of the main focus of their work.
contained only one
That single word captured the foundation for the entire organization. “Others” tells the stories of those we serve. Follow Us On Social
The Founder of The Salvation Army, General William Booth, once sent a telegram to his officers around
The telegram
word - “others.”
