SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Food Bank of CNY is on track to give out a record-high 24 million pounds of food, which is more than they’ve ever distributed in a year.

The CNY Food Bank serves 11 counties in New York, but a third of the food goes to Onondaga County alone. Much of that food is distributed to local food pantries. 

“When I was working, I didn’t come here as frequently. I could provide my own means. But when I lost my job, I had no choice but to come back and eat,” said Victor Overton, a Syracuse resident. 

Overton was one of many people who more recently had used Saint Lucy’s Food Pantry in downtown Syracuse. 

Overton’s food was not only for himself but also for his mother. He said when he walks into his mom’s house with bags full of food, “her face lights up.”

“She’s struggling by herself. So, when I don’t come through, times be hard and difficult, since she don’t really have the means. She don’t work,” Overton said.

Along with the loss of his job, Overton found getting food more difficult due to the recent increase in grocery prices.

“The prices for food now these days is so expensive and high, it’s hard for people. People don’t understand if you don’t even got a good job paying good money, then it’s hard to sustain off $400 every two weeks,” Overton said.

Murray Gould, the director of Saint Lucy’s Food Pantry, agreed with Overton.

“You and I experience it when we go to the grocery store, what the cost is…so our clients here are no different,” Gould said.

He added that the food pantry has seen an increase in visits by 25%-30% this year compared to last year. With the Food Bank providing more food than ever to residents like Overton, Gould said his number one need is not more food, but more volunteers. 

“We’re in an effort to recruit more volunteers,” Gould said. “We need 24 to 29 more for an optimum amount.” 

The hard work from the volunteers and workers running the pantry doesn’t go unnoticed by the pantry users, who rely on it to keep food on the table. 

“I would like to thank the workers at Saint Lucy’s and commend them for doing a tremendous job,” Overton said.