ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester’s first ever service truck rodeo offered meals for the hungry and free services for all in need.
“This service truck rodeo exemplifies what collaborative and service leadership looks like,” Rochester Deputy Mayor Patrick Cunningham said. “This is what Rochester is made of, being of service of helping our neighbors.”
Thirteen different organizations set up mobile units and tables in one of Rochester's poorest neighborhoods, located at the Campus of St. Michael’s Church on Clinton Ave.
“We still have so much poverty,” Volunteer Director of Rochester Hope Daniel Ruiz said. “That doesn’t make sense. All the resources are here, and yet people are not getting what they need and that is because they don’t know the services are there or they don’t know how to access them.”
The event hopes to connect local residents to accessible resources. Organizers from ‘Rochester Hope’ anticipate the rodeo to continue the first Sunday of every month.
“It shows the whole community that everyone else cares,” Ruiz said, “...that we are not alone.”
All of the social service organizations that attended the event offered information on maintaining your vision.
“We really want to promote eye health in the community,” ophthalmologist Rajeev Ramchandran said. “We have them look right in this camera, we position the eye appropriately, and, once the camera warms up we take a picture of the eye.”
They also offered information on how everyday choices can affect our health.
“You see, this is an energy drink, this is how much sugar each energy drink has,” dental resident Badand ChakrabortyI said. “I mean, we feel this is healthy, but it has this much sugar. We should actually consider consuming less sugar because it has been related to obesity.”
You could also learn how to monitor your blood pressure.
“We’re doing blood pressure screenings,” registered nurse Andrea Cappon said. “Being aware of your blood pressure is really important to know those numbers and track. It’s important for us to get out here, get to know people, and for them to see that it’s not so scary.”
The service truck rodeo also spread awareness on drug and alcohol use.
“We have Narcan here, we have lots of different goodies,” president of Huther Doyle Kelly Reed said. “It feels really good to be able to provide people with the tools they need to keep other people alive.”
They are also making it more accessible for residents to get resources, as well as organizations getting their message across.
“This is a place where hope lives. Where healing can begin and where everything is possible,” Reed said.