Buffalo City Mission: 'Hambone Express' rolls on

Volunteers were to deliver more than 3,000 meals to  poor and homeless across Western New York during Christmas delivery program

On Friday, the Buffalo City Mission launched its annual “Hambone Express” event to deliver hot meals to the poor and homeless across Western New York.

Starting early on Christmas Day, volunteers helped the City Mission deliver festive ham dinners with all the fixings to Buffalo’s elderly, shut-ins, and impoverished neighbors in need – loading their vehicles and bringing more than 3,000 meals to homes throughout the region.

This year’s program also includes proactive measures to help protect the health and safety of all volunteers and recipients:

√ Dinners in sealable bags for contactless pickup and delivery.

√ Training instructions for all volunteers, detailing protective mask requirements and guidance for all pickup and drop-off deliveries.

√ Sanitizing products for all volunteers.

“This year’s ‘Hambone Express’ event truly symbolizes what the holidays mean in our community,” said Aubrey Calhoun, associate executive director of the City Mission. “At a time where so many in our community are struggling, our volunteers continue to donate their time in the spirit of goodwill and fellowship for others. Together, we are helping to lift up the spirits of our neighbors in need and to make sure they receive a hot meal on Christmas Day.”

“Hambone Express” marks the latest in the City Mission’s engagement during the holiday season, which follows November’s “Turkey Express No Contact Event” that delivered more than 5,200 meals to the poor and homeless across Western New York.

The Buffalo City Mission, founded in 1917, is a nonprofit organization providing preventative, emergency and transitional housing programs to thousands of people who are homeless and impoverished every year. That includes a women and children’s shelter (Cornerstone Manor), the men’s community center, and the Dick Road thrift store to serve the Western New York community. For more information, visit buffalocitymission.org or call 716-854-8181.

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