On Easter Sunday a couple hundred people received a hot meal at the Rescue Mission. As YNN's Erin Clarke tells us, the organization providing a holiday meal is nothing new, but some of the people being served this year are.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Starr Davies spent Easter Sunday at the Rescue Mission serving dinner.
But she didn't see it as a chore.

"When they leave they're smiling and I'm smiling. So we're both just enjoying the holiday," said Davies.

Star was one of about 35 volunteers who served up food with a smile to more than 200 people.

"They'd rather come here than stay home and alone. It's good for them to get out of the house and meet all these people down here," said Kenneth Birdseye.

Birdseye is a regular at the Rescue Mission's Easter Dinner, but this year the organization is serving more than its regulars. Just last month 1,500 family meals were served.

Earlier this week the labor department announced an increase in local unemployment numbers. As people continue to struggle Rescue Mission workers expect to see different faces at this year's Easter Dinner.

"We're also seeing people that are close to the margins in terms of they're trying to spread those dollars a little extra and they're having a hard time doing it with this economy. So we're going to see people that are out of work. We're going to see people that have health disabilities," said the Rescue Mission's Chief Operating Officer, Alan Thornton.

Thornton also says the Rescue Mission isn't only for the homeless men.

"Whether it's food, clothing, shelter.The face of homelessness is changing. We're seeing many more women and children," said Thornton.

No matter what the need is, the Rescue Mission's doors are open on Easter and every other day.