Bundles of Hope fills urgent shelter gaps

The Salvation Army of Rochester and Monroe County said on May 15 that it had wrapped its third annual “Bundles of Hope” campaign, a local supply drive aimed at people staying in shelters and families seeking emergency assistance. Rochester television stations 13WHAM and WROC reported that the campaign collected hygiene supplies, diapers, clothing, coffee, sugar and other basic items through donations from local businesses and community groups. Salvation Army officials said the drive is meant to cover needs that shelters and emergency programs cannot always obtain at discounted prices. Major Richard Starkey, director of operations for the Salvation Army of Monroe County, said the donated goods support both shelter residents and people using the group’s emergency family services program. “These are things that we need, but we have to usually pay for because it’s not something that we can do without,” Starkey told 13WHAM, referring to needs at the organization’s women’s and men’s shelters, emergency family services and food pantry. (13wham.com) ### Who is running Bundles of Hope in Rochester? The Salvation Army launched the Rochester-area campaign and partnered with local businesses and community organizations to collect the supplies, according to 13WHAM and WROC. WROC reported that this year marked the third year of the campaign. Rochester-area Salvation Army programs include three shelters in Monroe County and an emergency family services network that provides personal hygiene bags, clothing assistance, diaper assistance and supermarket vouchers, according to the organization’s website. (13wham.com) The group says its shelters provide almost 100 beds and more than 30,000 nights of lodging each year. ### What supplies are being collected and distributed? (13wham.com) 13WHAM reported that Bundles of Hope gathered supplies for people living in shelters and for others facing hardship. WROC said the donations included hygiene supplies, coffee, sugar and other essentials. The Salvation Army’s emergency family services program separately lists personal hygiene bags, clothing assistance and diaper assistance among the support it provides in Monroe County. (rochesterny.salvationarmy.org) Starkey told 13WHAM that some necessities can be obtained from a food bank or at a lower cost, but others still have to be purchased directly. That is why the campaign focuses on items that are routinely needed but are less likely to arrive through standard food donations, according to the station’s report. ### Why did organizers say the drive was needed this year? (13wham.com) WROC reported on May 15 that organizers tied the campaign to rising household costs. Starkey told the station that higher fuel and grocery prices were making it harder for families, including single parents, to afford all of their essentials. The Salvation Army’s own program descriptions show that its emergency family services operation is built around immediate crisis help, including food, hygiene items, diapers and referrals to other agencies. (13wham.com) Those services are offered through Rochester locations on Liberty Pole Way and North Clinton Avenue, with applications taken on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the organization. (rochesterfirst.com) ### Which shelters and programs does the campaign support? The Salvation Army says its Monroe County shelter system includes Booth Haven for men, Hope House for women and their young children, and Safe Haven for chronically homeless residents. The organization says those shelters provide temporary housing along with food and other support services. Monroe County residents who are not in shelter can also seek help through the emergency family services program, which the Salvation Army says offers food bags, hygiene support, clothing assistance and diaper assistance. (rochesterny.salvationarmy.org) That structure helps explain why officials described Bundles of Hope as serving both shelter guests and households in crisis. (rochesterny.salvationarmy.org) ### What happens next for the donated items? The Salvation Army said the Rochester shelters and emergency family services program will continue using the donated goods as needs arise across Monroe County. The organization’s Rochester website lists ongoing shelter operations and weekday emergency-assistance hours at 70 Liberty Pole Way, with additional limited service at 915 N. Clinton Ave. (13wham.com) May 15 marked the public close of this year’s Bundles of Hope campaign, but the Salvation Army’s housing and emergency-assistance programs remain active year-round. The next step is distribution through those shelters and service sites as residents and families request help, according to the organization’s Rochester-area program pages. (rochesterfirst.com) (rochesterny.salvationarmy.org)