The 40th Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade is now just a few days away. One part of the event you may not be familiar with is an effort to feed the hungry.

The St. Patrick Hunger Project has been part of the parade for 16 years.

For the last decade, Vince Christian has been the St. Patrick Hunger Project coordinator, doing all he can to garner donations for people in need.  

“The Hunger Project happens all year long, where we collect food and money and help try and feed the less fortunate in our community,” said Christian.

The Hunger Project was launched in 2006 as a way to encourage those coming to the parade to bring food and monetary donations to help those in need. The event typically attracts an estimated 30,000 every year. 

“Bill Gooley, John Young and Richie Walsh, developed this one day, and that is how the parade is really not just a one day event, it’s really a year round event where we’re trying to help people out,” said Christian.

Donations are collected year round, including at the parade itself. Funds and food help stock the shelves at non-profits like the Food Bank of Central New York and the Interreligious Food Consortium to help the hungry.

The collection efforts are always ramped up a few months before parade day. However because of the pandemic, the amount of physical food donations have been limited. That’s why volunteers say making a monetary donation this year is especially important.

Lynn Hy is the Food Bank of Central New York chief development officer and has been involved with the Hunger Project since its inception. She said the project typically gives around $20,000 to the Food Bank every year, which is used to buy essential goods for pantries.

“We’ve been working with them for the 15 years that the program has been going on. And, the Hunger Project each year makes a significant donation to Food Bank of Central New York. That donation helps us with our work in our eleven county service area and they also provide funds for our partner agencies as well,” said Hy.

“Last year was my first year experiencing the Hunger Project in the parade. And, because of the parade not happening we weren’t sure what was going to happen so then all of a sudden I get the call from Vince, and he’s bringing over two thousand plus, really 3,000 plus pounds of food so it was a surprise to me, I’m like this person in the committee is working their magic,” said Interreligious Food Consortium Director Kate Artessa.

And now with the parade back on, there will be even more opportunity to give back. If you’re heading to the parade you’re encouraged to look for monetary donation collectors or consider giving online. And it’s that generosity that continues to fuel people like Vince Christian to keep the Hunger Project alive.

“Seeing all this food, and knowing that it’s going to people in need is really, it gives me a really good feeling. To know that someone’s not going to go to bed hungry tonight because the efforts we make,” said Christian.

Efforts that are going a long way to ensure everyone gets food to live healthy. The Hunger Project Committee will typically make check donations to both the Food Bank and the IRFC in the few weeks following the parade. Monetary donations can be made on the Syracuse St. Patrick's Day parade website.