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Courtesy of Spectrum News
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A single parent with one child in New York state would have to make $48 an hour to support themselves and their child, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s living wage calculator. The current minimum wage in upstate New York is $15 an hour.
Where wages are not cutting it, food pantries and charities like Community Missions in Niagara Falls are trying to help.
“Our biggest struggle at the moment is simply making sure that we have all the food, all the items people need when they come to us,” said Christian Hoffman, spokesperson for Community Missions. “We’re always looking for donations of time, talent and treasure. And so the time and talent can be volunteer service. Financial donations are those that can really be stretched the farthest because we have so many wonderful partnerships.”
Hoffman said the charity can often get more bang for their buck than some may get at the grocery store. Community Missions serves about 350 families on a regular basis, but anyone can fall on hard times unexpectedly, especially with the current cost of living outpacing people’s wages. That is why the team makes sure the stigma of needing help never gets in the way.
“We absolutely try to be as dignified as we can possibly be in helping someone no matter where they’re at," said Hoffman.
