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Food Bank of WNY to hold food distributions for federal government employees impacted by government shutdown

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Wed, Jan 16th 2019 01:25 pm

As the partial government shutdown continues, leaving many federal government employees furloughed or working without compensation, the Food Bank of WNY is mobilizing to hold a series of special food distributions throughout its four-county service area to assist impacted employees and their families who may be experiencing financial hardship or food insecurity.

The distributions will provide a variety of shelf-stable and perishable nutritious food items, including fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy products and grains, to help affected families put food on their tables.

These special food distributions will be held at the following times and locations:

  • The Salvation Army Jamestown, 83 S. Main St. (Chautauqua County) – Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon.
  • The Salvation Army Lockport, 50 Cottage St. (Niagara County) – Thursday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to noon.
  • The Salvation Army Tonawanda, 46 Broad St. (Erie County) – Thursday, Jan. 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Eden-North Collins Food Pantry, 2059 Franklin St., North Collins (Erie County) – Friday, Jan. 25, 1-3 p.m.
  • Olean Food Pantry, 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean (Cattaraugus County) – Tuesday, Jan. 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Information on these special food distributions also can be found on the Food Bank’s website, at www.foodbankwny.org, or by calling the Food Bank at 716-852-1305.

In order to make it as easy as possible for hungry community members to receive food, participants simply will be asked to sign in at the distributions, in order to self-declare need.

“Many community members are just one missing paycheck away from needing food assistance. The Food Bank of WNY exists to make sure no one has to go hungry – during this partial government shutdown or at any time, for any circumstance,” said Tara A. Ellis, president and CEO of the Food Bank of WNY. “We hope our neighbors in need take advantage of these special food distributions, as well as our ongoing programs and services that we offer throughout our four-county service area.”

The Food Bank is preparing for the possibility of additional special food distributions to impacted federal employees and will provide further resources to its partner hunger-relief agencies to assist with an increase in services. The Food Bank also is mobilizing for additional food distributions to assist Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in the event their benefits are impacted as the shutdown continues.

Anyone in need of food assistance is encouraged to call the Food Bank of WNY to be connected with its partner agencies and programs. Community members in need also can use the “Find Help” tab on the Food Bank’s website to find a soup kitchen or food pantry in their area.

About the Food Bank of WNY

The Food Bank of WNY is the primary hunger-relief organization in Western New York, obtaining and distributing food to 317 member agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, group homes and youth programs in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. Through these agencies, the Food Bank of WNY serves as many as 140,000 individuals in any given month, including 45,300 households, 54,500 children and infants and 18,370 seniors. For more information, visit www.foodbankwny.org.

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