According to a 2017 report from the Onondaga County Health department, 31 percent of Syracuse households receive SNAP benefits — the federal assistance program formerly known as food stamps.

To combat that, many local organizations have food pantries where families can get groceries at no cost. 

One of those pantries can be found inside the University United Methodist Church in Syracuse. They feed 50 families a week, providing fresh fruits and veggies, meat dairy and all other essentials.

The staff and volunteers at the pantry keep smiles and a positive attitude to make sure everyone using the service knows they are appreciated and have a place to come to in their time of need. They even provide pet food, hygiene products and diapers to fill the non-food essentials. On top of all of that, the church hires a taxi for two hours every Friday to make sure everyone gets home safe with their food. 

"One of the big barriers in running a food pantry and having people acquire food, is then getting them home," Said Galyn Murphy-Stanley, the pantry's outreach coordinator. "We dont solve anyone's problems or make them feel better if we load them up with food and they're stuck outside our door."

If you need assistance, check the map below to find a food pantry nearby.