First Niagara provides funding for Community Missions of Niagara Frontier

Donation will help feed local families

The First Niagara Foundation and Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. are partnering to provide food for local families in need through the community soup kitchen. The kitchen opens its doors six days a week for a well-rounded, nutritious lunch.

Community Missions provides a unique blend of referral, crisis, community support and residential services for young people and adults. The First Niagara Foundation is donating $1,000 to the organization.

"First Niagara is committed to making our community a better place," said Elizabeth Gurney, executive director of the First Niagara Foundation. "We are proud to support Community Missions and the work they do every day to make a lasting impact on the lives of those seeking their assistance."

"We are so thankful for organizations like the First Niagara Foundation that see a community need, and work to address it," said Robyn L. Krueger, executive director of Community Missions. "This support will directly fund the work of our community soup kitchen, which provided more than 27,000 meals in 2013."

Community Missions has provided the Niagara community with a wide range of vital services since 1925. In 2013, CMI provided more than 75,000 meals and nearly 11,000 nights of care within its crisis services programs. Additional agency programs serve adults and youth with psychiatric disabilities, parolees, at-risk youth and other underserved populations in both residential and recovery-oriented settings. For more information, visit www.communitymissions.org.

First Niagara Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1998. It is committed to supporting organizations in the communities with specific focus on youth and education, community development and neighborhood revitalization. In 2012, the foundation contributed more than $10 million in charitable grants to community partners. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com/community.