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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Volunteers are an important piece to the puzzle when it comes to the Syracuse City School District. And with big cuts to the budget and teaching staff, more than a thousand volunteers are who help keep the district going day in and day out.

More than 200 of those volunteers were honored by Superintendent Sharon Contreras and the Board of Education at a luncheon on Thursday. Contreras says the event is organized to say thank you to the people who help the schools in various ways, whether it be serving lunches or reading to students. She says with continuous budget cuts and rising costs, the volunteers help fill the holes.

"We've lost more than 1,000 positions over the last four years and our community has really rallied together and we have more volunteers than ever coming into the schools, supporting teachers and supporting students," Contreras said.

Contreras says these volunteers have become important parts of the students' lives as they grow up.