Rochester’s first-ever Service Truck Rodeo served those hungry for social services

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Thirteen social service organizations set up their mobile units on the campus of St. Michael’s Church on North Clinton Avenue, offering free services and information in one of Rochester’s poorest neighborhoods on Sunday. The Service Truck Rodeo was sponsored by Rochester Hope, a new organization dedicated to connecting individuals to existing services.

“Our mission is to connect people in need to the services they need most,” explains Daniel Ruiz, volunteer director of Rochester Hope. “We operate in the heart of Rochester’s Latino and Black communities, where people either don’t know about the services available, or simply can’t afford the gas to drive to get to them. Our goal is to offer these Service Truck Rodeos on the first Sunday of each month, complementing the current charities we run such as Matthew’s Closet, the Sister Regis Food Cupboard, the community center at St. Michael’s and others.”

Organizations joining with Rochester Hope included Dress For Success, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Flaum Eye Institute at URMC, Heritage Christian, The Housing Council at PathStone, Huther Doyle Substance Abuse Services, Jordan Health, Just Cause Legal Support, Lifespan Services for Older Adults, The Margaret Home, Trillium Health, UR Medicine’s Mobile Crisis Team, and UR Aging Institute and Division of Geriatrics.