Feeding Syracuse

The Assumption Church Food Pantry, currently located at 808 N. Salina St., has long been a place where anyone can come to receive food through the sandwich program. Started in the late 1800s, the sandwich program was originally run by sisters of St. Francis, but is currently operated by the brothers and friars of St. Francis.

On average, 8,000 to 9,000 sandwiches are handed out per month. There are several factors that could affect this number: time of year, weather conditions, vacation of school children, etc. A large majority of the sandwiches, if not all, are made within the pantry before the doors open at 11 a.m. each day. Individuals and churches often donate the sandwiches.

Nancy Cannizzaro, a head volunteer at the Assumption Church Food Pantry, said the program is open every day of the week, and twice a day Monday through Friday. “The beauty of the Assumption Church Sandwich Program is that no one has to go hungry. We only ask that the individual and/or family show up, no questions asked, and you are served a sandwich."

Partial funding for the sandwich program is from the Food Bank of Central New York. Through an application, the food pantry is allowed to express its needs and from this the Food Bank determines how much funding the pantry receives. Donations are used to pay for the remaining deficits.

The main difference between the sandwich program and other food pantry programs is that with the sandwich program, anyone can receive food. No identification is necessary to receive a sandwich. All someone has to do is show up and ask for a sandwich.