Food Bank of WNY: Community's help needed to 'Check Out Hunger'

Local retailers participate in 25th annual campaign

Western New Yorkers will be able to help feed hungry families in the community while shopping for groceries throughout the month o February. Customers of Dash's Market, The Market in the Square, Tops Friendly Markets and Wegmans Food Markets will have the option to add $2, $3, or $5 to their grocery bill to support the Food Bank of Western New York's 25th annual "Check Out Hunger" campaign.

All proceeds from "Check Out Hunger" will go directly to the Food Bank of WNY, which provides nutritious food and support to as many as 44,000 families in any given month. A $2 donation will help provide approximately 12 meals to local families in need, while a $3 donation will help provide approximately 18 meals, and a $5 donation will help provide 30 meals.

"Check Out Hunger" is the Food Bank's largest annual fundraiser, and is critical in helping the organization fight hunger one day at a time. Proceeds from last year's campaign helped provide more than 4.4 million meals to hungry Western New York families.

"Hunger is still a serious problem in Western New York, affecting not just our inner cities, but our suburbs and rural communities as well. While the Food Bank works hard to feed hungry families, seniors and children throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties, we rely on support from the community in order to fight hunger one day at a time," said Marylou Borowiak, president and CEO of the Food Bank of WNY. "We are so grateful for the past 24 years of incredible support through this campaign, and we appreciate our local retail partners and the WNY community as they come together once more to help us 'Check Out Hunger.' "

Dash's Market, The Market in the Square and Wegmans Food Markets' "Check Out Hunger" campaigns will run throughout the month of February, while Tops Friendly Markets' campaign is running now through Feb. 18. Lexington Cooperative Market will hold its "Check Out Hunger" campaign in the spring.

Premier Gourmet, Premier Wine & Spirits and Price Rite completed their "Check Out Hunger" campaigns in November and December.

The Food Bank of WNY is the primary hunger-relief organization in Western New York, obtaining and distributing food to 329 member agencies, including food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, youth programs and senior centers in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties. Through these agencies, the Food Bank of WNY serves as many as 129,322 individuals in any given month, including more than 44,000 families, 45,000 children and nearly 17,000 seniors. For more information, visit www.foodbankwny.org.