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Rochester, New York — $3 million. This is the amount that the City of Rochester will distribute to six local food pantries and food kitchens. This funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
St. Peter’s Kitchen is one of the organizations to receive more than $250,000 in coronavirus relief funds.
According to Foodlink, thousands of people in our region are struggling to put food on the table. One in eight people in Monroe County is food insecure.
Rochester City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on approving coronavirus relief funds to provide more food access.
In Rochester, many people rely on St. Peter’s Kitchen on Brown Street for their daily meals.
Marcia Augustine: What did you have for lunch today?
Javier lives in Rochester: potatoes, meat and salad.
Javier was served by Fran Sweeney, who has volunteered at the school lunch kitchen for the past four years. I see 350 people coming through the door for lunch.
“It’s amazing, it’s amazing. It’s so necessary. You see the numbers are increasing all the time. The need is there. It’s so great,” Sweeney said.
Funding from the city will also help process and handle more food in freezers and cold rooms.
“Through this grant, we’re going to provide additional time for people to get food, whether it’s a pantry or a hot lunch program. We’re targeting working families. On Saturdays. We will be open in the morning and will also be open for Saturday lunch,” said Robert Boyd, interim executive director of St. Peter’s Kitchen.
Fifty families will receive food boxes once a week, Monday through Friday. Boyd expects 50 families to come to buy food on Saturday alone. Since COVID-19, his need for food has increased dramatically, especially over the past year due to reductions in SNAP and other benefits.
“People are working. They don’t have enough income to make ends meet. Forty percent of the people who come here are seniors who are trying to live on $1,700, $1,800 a month. They don’t have enough money to make ends meet. We can’t,” Boyd said.
In 2020, St. Peter’s Kitchen served approximately 45,000 households. This year, the number is expected to reach 160,000.
The kitchen serves lunch Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m.
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