Over the holidays the C.R. Fletcher team had the opportunity to volunteer at the Samaritan Center located in the basement of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral downtown on Montgomery St.  What an eye opening and rewarding experience to do during the holidays.  It was a shock to see the number of men, women,  and children that rely on the Samaritan Center for meals on a daily basis.  Along with a group of volunteers from the Marcellus School District, everyone from C.R. Fletcher played a part to make the meal possible. My role was to welcome the guests and offer them a cup and tray, as well as offer them hats and gloves donated by individuals in our community.

        The Samaritan Center opens their doors 365 days a year.  They serve dinner everyday and both breakfast and dinner on the weekdays relying almost entirely on volunteer efforts ranging from donations to servers. They have been open for over thirty years, but with the recession they are seeing an increase in numbers.  The Samaritan Center is not just for the homeless.  A lot of people who visit the center are working, but are unable to support themselves on low wages.

        It was a great feeling to be able to help the homeless, disabled, less fortunate and otherwise stricken people. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity I would consider assisting the Samaritan Center.  They are continually looking for donations and volunteers to make their efforts possible.  If you are interested in volunteering, please visit www.thesamaritancenter.com or call the Volunteer Coordinator at 315-472-0650.