Buffalo City Mission raises $2.43 million toward fall 2018 campaign

Expresses gratitude to community

Funds will support essential programs for the region’s homeless

On Thursday, the Buffalo City Mission announced its gratitude to the Western New York community for helping to raise $2.43 million for the 2018 annual fall campaign – exceeding its $2.35 million goal. The campaign comprises nearly one-third of the City Mission’s annual operating budget.

From October to December, the organization conducted the campaign – a separate initiative from its ongoing “Next Century” capital campaign – to help provide the finances necessary to sustain its preventative, emergency and transitional housing programs to homeless men, women and children of Buffalo.

“Today, we celebrate another truly special team effort,” said Stuart Harper, CEO and executive director of the Buffalo City Mission. “Each year, the incredible generosity of our community members exemplifies their compassion and goodwill for every neighbor. We are grateful for every contribution, which will help the (City) Mission with our critical work in helping to support the homeless across our region.”

According to the Homeless Alliance of Western New York, more than 45 percent of people in Buffalo and Erie County live below the poverty line. More than 6,000 experience homelessness each year. As part of its ongoing connection with the community, the City Mission is committed to providing housing, educational programming, employment services and related life skills to ease poverty and homelessness, and leave no neighbor behind.

“Our work at the (City) Mission continues every day of the year,” Harper said. “The upcoming cold winter months are a time where this region’s homeless community looks to us for shelter and support, with a focus on healing and hope. Through our fall campaign and selfless altruism of this community, we have the resources and resolve to help every individual begin process of restoration through a hot meal, warm bed, and resolve for a better tomorrow.”

Last year, the City Mission served more than 145,000 meals and provided 73,691 safe nights of sleep shelter.

The agency welcomes donations from community individuals throughout the year. For more information on how contributions can help restore a life of a fellow neighbor, visit buffalocitymission.org.

About the Buffalo City Mission

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. This 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, call 716-854-8181, or follow through social media on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloCityMission and Twitter: https://twitter.com/CityMission.