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Food Bank of WNY seeks community's help to 'Walk Off Hunger'

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Fri, Jul 14th 2017 05:10 pm
Proceeds from annual fundraiser will help feed hungry local families
The Food Bank of WNY is seeking participants for its 10th annual "Walk Off Hunger," which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at Island Park in Williamsville. Presented by Life Storage, this family-friendly event will help the Food Bank of WNY provide more nutritious meals to hungry children and families this summer.
"Walk Off Hunger" is once again co-hosted by Calvary Episcopal Church and Congregation Shir Shalom.
Check-in and registration will begin at 10 a.m., with the 2-mile walk starting at 11 a.m. The walk will be followed by a festival featuring food, children's activities, bounce houses, a climbing wall, musical entertainment, visits from local sports teams' mascots, an auction and more.
Attendees are welcome to park at Mill Middle School, located at 505 Mill St., and take a free shuttle bus provided by First Student to and from the event.
While donations to the Food Bank of WNY slow significantly during the summer, the need in the community remains high. Summertime is especially difficult for families whose children rely on their school's free or reduced-meal program. During summer vacation, many of these families turn to the Food Bank of WNY's member agencies to help make up those missed meals.
"Walk Off Hunger" was strategically created as a summertime fundraiser in order to help the Food Bank of WNY replenish its shelves and provide more meals to hungry local families.
"Unfortunately, one in five children in Western New York struggles with hunger. Instead of spending their summer vacations playing and having fun, many children in our community are worrying about where their next meal will come from," said Marylou Borowiak, president and CEO of the Food Bank of WNY. "We encourage the community to join us on July 29 and help us walk the walk in the fight against hunger. Not only is 'Walk Off Hunger' fun for the whole family, but it is a wonderful opportunity to make a true difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors."
Registration for the walk is $25 per person; children ages 16 and younger are free to participate. Walkers can register the day of the event or online at www.foodbankwny.org.
In celebration of the walk's 10th anniversary, there is a special drawing for a chance to win a $2,000 AAA gift certificate to plan a family vacation. Tickets are $10 per entry or $20 for three entries. Tickets for the drawing are currently available at www.foodbankwny.org and will also be sold at the walk. Participants in the drawing need not be present at the walk to win.
"Walk Off Hunger" is made possible through the generosity of many sponsors, including presenting sponsor - Life Storage, diamond sponsors - Andreozzi Bluestein LLP, Evans Bank, Father Sam's Bakery, Galbani, Praxair Inc., SEFCU and Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving; and platinum sponsors - Delta Air Lines, First Student, Foxy Delivery Service and Eduardo and Amy Heumann.
The Food Bank of WNY is the primary hunger-relief organization in Western New York, obtaining and distributing food to 341 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 134,955 individuals in any given month, including more than 44,000 families, 55,000 children and infants, and nearly 16,500 seniors.
For more information, visit www.foodbankwny.org.

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