BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- To some, it might look like vacant land. But to residents on Binghamton's North Side, it's a sign of hope.
A $5.5 million multi-purpose Salvation Army facility could be coming to the area in less than two years.
"It's always a good feeling to have a renewed sense of hope when you see something that's taking place in the future, and you say, 'Wow, that's really a move in the right direction,” said Ron Heimbrock, Binghamton Salvation Army Corps officer.
Because they've been without a grocery store for a number of years, many have called the north side a "food desert." But now, the Salvation Army plans to offer two healthy meals a day for those in need, as well as maintaining a community garden offering fresh fruits and vegetables.
"That's one of our areas of specialty that we're going to be focusing on over in the north side is food needs. We're going to be expanding our programs, many of which are going to be dealing with food," said Heimbrock.
The facility will feature two commercial-grade kitchens, a food pantry and classes in food prep. To break the cycle of poverty the area has been facing, the Salvation Army will also have a heavy focus on job training.
"If we can assist and help family members have core skills that they can then transfer into the job market, it's extremely important," said Chet Schultz, Binghamton Salvation Army advisory board chairman.
And for those parents who enter the workforce, the facility will offer drop in youth programs, a full-size high school gym for children and free health checks.
There's a lot of needs here, and that's really what we're here for. We serve people out of our love for God and our love for others, so we're here to help," said Heimbrock.
If it can secure the proper funding, the Salvation Army plans to have its new facility open by the spring of 2018. As of the end of August, more than 36,000 people have taken advantage of the Binghamton Salvation Army's services.