Local Ford dealers demonstrate commitment to community, donating $20,000 to food banks in honor of National Senior Hunger Awareness Month

WNY Ford Dealers, Rochester Area Ford Dealers announce donation of $10,000 each to FeedMore WNY and Foodlink

As part of its ongoing commitment to support local communities, the WNY and Rochester Area Ford Dealers announced a donation totaling $20,000 to two food access organizations serving the greater Buffalo and Rochester communities in honor of National Senior Hunger Awareness Month this April: FeedMore WNY and Foodlink.

A press release stated, “National Senior Hunger Awareness Month sheds light on the critical issue of food insecurity that affects millions of individuals and families across the country. Across New York state, food insecurity affects more than 310,000 people ages 60 and above. In response to this, the WNY and Rochester Area Ford Dealers have chosen to donate $10,000 each to FeedMore WNY in Buffalo and Foodlink in Rochester. Both organizations play a vital role in addressing hunger and providing assistance to those in need within their respective communities.”

Western New York Ford Advertising Fund Chairman Frank Zambito said, "National Senior Hunger Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the challenges many families face in accessing an adequate food supply. At Ford, we are all in on Buffalo and Rochester and believe in the importance of supporting the vital organizations that continue to support the health and well-being of our region’s residents. This donation underscores our commitment to making a difference where it matters most."

FeedMore WNY’s mission is to offer dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to Western New York community members in need. Through its food bank distribution center and partner hunger-relief agencies, as well as its home-delivered meal program, other targeted feeding programs and RISE workforce development training, FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties.

“FeedMore WNY is grateful to the WNY and Rochester Area Ford Dealers for this incredible donation in recognition of Senior Hunger Awareness Month,” Chief Communications Officer Collin Bishop said. “Food insecurity continues to grow in Western New York, and our senior population remains especially vulnerable; last year, the number of older adults served by FeedMore WNY increased by 35%. Donations like this enable FeedMore WNY to continue our vital programs and services that alleviate food insecurity throughout our service area.”

Foodlink is a Rochester-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. Serving as the hub of the emergency food system across a 10-county service area, Foodlink administers many programs and initiatives that aim to build the health and wealth of communities.

“National Senior Hunger Awareness Month is a time for us all to remember the struggles that our most vulnerable neighbors face to access food and discuss how we can ensure that elders across our region have greater access to healthy food,” said Julia Tedesco, president and CEO of Foodlink. “We are deeply appreciative of Western New York and Rochester Area Ford Dealers being all in on Buffalo and Rochester, and for their partnership in Foodlink’s mission to leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities."

The press release stated, “This donation is just a small token of the local Ford dealer’s ongoing commitment to community involvement in each market. Through various initiatives such as volunteer programs and partnerships with local nonprofits, including its Ford Friendship Express Program, Ford strives to make a positive impact in communities beyond automotive innovation.”

The Western New York Ford Dealers are part of the Western New York Ford Advertising Fund, an advertising cooperative comprised of 39 dealer locations, that provides support for Ford vehicle sales and service in the 13 counties of Western New York and Rochester, and three counties in Northern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.buyfordnow.com.