The Rescue Mission in Roanoke set a new record Tuesday, after serving more than 900 meals.
People all over are feeling the pressures of day to day expenses. Not long ago Stephanie Curby had a place of her own and was a volunteer at the Rescue Mission. Curby said, that’s when the unexpected happened. "I was having trouble helping a member of my family. It was getting more and more expensive and before I knew it, I ran out of money and lost my home."
Curby says she puts in applications everyday and takes online classes. A lot of people she meets at the mission are in a similar situation. "Those that are working are getting minimum wage and can't afford everything they need to do to survive."
More than 900 people were fed on Tuesday and that number set a new record.
CEO of the Rescue Mission, Joy Sylvester’Johnson, describes the reasons for high numbers as "the perfect storm". "There’s a lack of low income housing available, then we have the parenthesis of an earthquake and a coming hurricane, we have the end of the month, health care crisis, a mortgage crisis. In every direction there's pressure."
Many people News7 spoke with say they have jobs, but after bills are paid, there's little money leftover for food.
More homeless people are also seeking emergency shelter. On Tuesday, more than 400 people were housed overnight. Even with 132 beds in the men’s shelter, workers say every night you'll still find people sleeping with mats on the floor because there's not enough beds.
The Rescue Mission depends solely on donations. It does not take city, state or federal funds to operate shelters for the homeless, medical clinics or recovery programs.
If you'd like to donate you contact the Rescue Mission at (540) 343-7227 or visit them at 402 4th Street Southeast in Roanoke, Virginia.
Current urgent needs at the Mission include: Hygiene and laundry supplies, school supplies, twin sheet sets and evening volunteers to assist the shelter staff and kitchen staff.
