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Local Business Group Puts $10,000 into Helping Get Homeless Off The Streets During Cold Weather

edlewi.com

A Central New York franchise of Dunkin’ Donuts is partnering with the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse after the demand in their shelter has increased during the recent cold weather. 

The Wolak Group presented a $10,000 check Tuesday that will support the Mission’s efforts to get homeless folks off the streets and into shelters and then permanent housing. 

A former Dunkin’ employee in Syracuse was captured in a social media post last year pouring water on a sleeping homeless man inside a store.  Local Franchise Owner Tom Santurri says they’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

“We’ve been able to educate our employees, different businesses and different groups that we’ve met over the last few months.  So it’s turned out to be a very positive outcome.  I think we’re all in a better place for it.”

As new employees are brought onto their team, awareness of the homeless population is covered.  Senior management like Santurri also attended coaching seminars and that gets passed along to employees.

“We all see people on street corners and different aspects that they need help.  So understanding why they’re homeless and how we can help them has really been the heart of what we’re learning and helping.”

For the next month, Dunkin’ is also holding a winter clothing drive and personal hygiene drive at nearly 40 locations across Central New York.  Sieburg says the company is stepping-up.

“I think it’s great to put your money where your mouth is and to really support an organization like ours.  And they know we will get these gloves, these hats, coats, and hygiene products into the hands of those who are in most need in our community.  And we will help them go from homelessness to fully-housed and living their highest level of independence.”

Sieburg describes a step they often take to try and get someone to transition from living on the streets to a more safe and supportive environment.

“If an individual is not sure they’re ready to enter a shelter and they’re out on the streets, it’s a much easier conversation to say, ‘Well let’s go into a Dunkin Donuts.  Let’s have a cup of coffee, let’s get you something to eat.  Let’s have a conversation about how can we help you.  What is the next step we can take you from being under this bridge right now, to where can we go?  We need to get you off the streets.  It’s going to be 5 degrees outside; it’s not a place for you to be sleeping.’”

Monday night, nearly 190 people were at the Rescue Mission’s shelter.  Sieburg estimates there are more homeless individuals out on the streets. 

Items accepted at Dunkin’ restaurants (new items only, please):

  • ·         Hats
  • ·         Gloves
  • ·         Scarves
  • ·         Socks
  • ·         Underwear (all sizes)
  • ·         Undershirts (all sizes)
  • ·         Deodorant
  • ·         Toothbrushes
  • ·         Toothpaste
  • ·         Bar Soap
  • ·         Lip Balm

Items accepted at the following Dunking Donuts locations

  • ·         34 E. Genesee, Baldwinsville
  • ·         2244 Downer St, Baldwinsville
  • ·         9555 Brewerton Road, Brewerton
  • ·         5268 West Genesee St, Camillus
  • ·         818 N. Main St, Cicero
  • ·         8083 Brewerton Rd, Cicero
  • ·         5865 State Route 31, Cicero
  • ·         6166 South Bay Road, Cicero
  • ·         4206 State Route 31, Clay
  • ·         6681 Collamer Rd, Dewitt
  • ·         6584 Thompson Rd, Dewitt
  • ·         6438 Basile Rowe, East Syracuse
  • ·         7043 Manlius Center Rd, East Syracuse
  • ·         4 Chevy Drive, East Syracuse
  • ·         501 E Genesee Street, Fayetteville
  • ·         299 Farrell Rd, Geddes
  • ·         105 Second Street, Liverpool
  • ·         409 7th North St, Liverpool
  • ·         7281 Oswego Rd, Liverpool
  • ·         4744 Buckley Rd, Liverpool
  • ·         7645 Oswego Road, Liverpool
  • ·         306 Fayette Street, Manlius
  • ·         2723 Brewerton Rd, Mattydale
  • ·         3800 Brewerton Rd, North Syracuse
  • ·         5194 W. Taft Rd, North Syracuse
  • ·         3336 W Genesee St, Syracuse
  • ·         400 Velasko Road, Syracuse
  • ·         6378 Thompson Rd, Syracuse
  • ·         3915 S Salina Street, Syracuse
  • ·         4886 W Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse
  • ·         746 South Crouse Ave, Syracuse
  • ·         977 East Brighton Ave, Syracuse
  • ·         2851 Erie Blvd, Syracuse
  • ·         649 N. Salina St, Syracuse
  • ·         1001 W Genesee St, Syracuse
Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.