Amanda Crumb spends her days loading up food for a Central New York family in need. She has worked for the Salvation Army Food Pantry for about a month, and she finds it rewarding.

“A lot of people that have never had to come here before have been here, but it’s a great feeling knowing you can help them out, especially young mothers coming in for diapers,” said Crumb. 

The demand for food and diapers is high. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the pantry has provided more than 150,000 meals. The Salvation Army’s other offerings are in demand too. 

Instead of helping one or two people, Christina Thornton said she’s getting 10 to 15 calls a day.

“They don’t know where to go for certain things," said Thornton, director of emergency and practical assistance services for the Salvation Army in Syracuse. "People needing help with food, people needing help with housing. I think those calls come in a lot more often, and they need to be answered right away, because it’s not something that can just wait until the next day or anything like that.”

Everything is more of an emergency these days, Thornton said.

About three times as many people are visiting the pantry. Because of social distancing, Crumb is left without volunteers to help her.  

“This is it," said Crumb. "We all work together and try to do everything we can for people, and give them everything we have out of the pantry. And hopefully give them a little bit of cheer to their day.”

The pantry sends people home with more than a box full of meals.