VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Samaritan Center in Syracuse fights back food stamp cuts 1 meal at a time
HORST: For many residents here in Syracuse, food stamps aren’t just assistance–they’re survival. And on Saturday, more than 100 thousand people across central New York will lose that much-needed access.
HORST: Brenda Mimms, a community volunteer at the Samaritan Center, says getting involved is personal.
MIMMS: “It means a lot to me because I was in a situation at one time with somebody that was not doing the right things, so I understand the people that come here to eat, I think thats why I’ve been here 27 years.”
HORST: Joel Harleston, the chief development officer, says a safe environment is imperative as the snap cuts make the margins even thinner.
HARLESTON: “People are making decisions, are they gonna go and are they gonna pay their rent, or are they gonna eat. So they’re gonna have to make some tough choices, so what we wanna do is we wanna make sure that we’re here creating a safe environment where they can preserve their dignity throughout this tumultuous time.”
HORST: Behind every meal served here at the Samaritan Center are community volunteers determined to help their neighbors. Even I got in on the action, helping to serve over 100 people.
HORST: Shongo Osborne, the community engagement officer at the center, says he can’t stand what’s happening.
OSBORNE: “My reaction to the cuts is like…I mean I’m not gonna say it on camera, i mean on video, but its not not good.”
HORST: More than 100 thousand people now face an uncertain future. Losing these benefits isn’t just a policy change—it’s a question of survival. Reporting for N-C-C news, I’m Genae Horst.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Residents in Syracuse and all across Central New York now face an uncertain future. Food stamps are more than just assistance from the government; they have become a lifeline for thousands. But in just 24 hours, hundreds of thousands of people across the Central New York area and all around the country will lose access to this vital resource as cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) take effect.
Brenda Mimms, a longtime community volunteer at the Samaritan Center, knows firsthand how critical the need is.
“It means a lot to me because I was in a situation at one time with somebody that was not doing the right things,” Mimms said. “So I understand the people that come here to eat. I think that’s why I’ve been here 27 years.”
With the impact of the cuts looming, local charities and volunteers like the ones at the Samaritan Center are bracing for the massive surge in demand. Joel Harleston, chief development officer at the center, said the loss of SNAP benefits will force many to make impossible choices.
“People are making decisions — are they going to pay their rent or are they going to eat?” Harleston said. “So they’re gonna have to make some tough choices. What we want to do is make sure that we’re here, creating a safe environment where they can preserve their dignity throughout this tumultuous time.”
The volunteers of the center serve meals to more than 300 people everyday. The center is a lifeline for the community, and it represents more than just help with food and access. Shongo Osborne, the center’s community engagement officer and occasional help in the kitchen, expressed frustration with the cuts.
“My reaction to the cuts is like … I mean I’m not gonna say it on camera, but it’s not good,” Osborne said.
Just days before the cutbacks, thousands in Central New York now face an uncertain future. For them, the loss of SNAP benefits is not just a policy change — it’s a question of survival.
