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Volunteers deliver more than 3,800 meals to poor and homeless across Western New York
On Christmas, the Buffalo City Mission launched its annual “Hambone Express” event to deliver hot meals to the poor and homeless across Western New York.
Starting early on Christmas Day, volunteers helped the agency deliver meals to Buffalo’s elderly, shut-ins, and impoverished neighbors in need. Staff and volunteers convened at the City Mission at 100 E. Tupper St., loaded their vehicles with Christmas meals plus all the fixings, and delivered more than 3,800 meals to homes across Western New York.
“In the spirit of the season, the City Mission is honored to deliver hot meals and season’s greetings to those who are struggling,” said Stuart Harper, CEO and executive director of the Buffalo City Mission. “This time of year is about fellowship and spreading goodwill in our community. The volunteers who donate their time to support our annual ‘Hambone Express’ event truly personify what the holidays represent. Together, we are helping to lift up the spirits of our neighbors who are in need and to make sure no one in our community goes hungry on Christmas Day.”
“Hambone Express” marks the latest in the City Mission’s engagement during the holiday season, which follows last week’s Christmas community meal, and November’s annual turkey drive, Thanksgiving community meal and “Turkey Express.”
This event also was held alongside the City Mission’s ongoing construction of a new, 75,000-square-foot flagship community center. Scheduled to open in 2020, the center will provide preventative services on the front end to decrease the percentage of homelessness year-over-year for those who are on the brink of homelessness. It will also deliver more complete care to individuals who already experience homelessness. Notable features will include space for social service agencies, case management, mental health services, medical care, job training, basic family services, legal services, food and clothing.
The building is part of the City Mission’s vision moving into the next century to provide services that help prevent and decrease homelessness in the community. Today, approximately $13.3 million of a target $15 million has been committed or is in process – all through the City Mission’s “Next Century” capital campaign. The drive is $1.7 million from its goal. To learn more about the campaign and how to donate, visit nextcenturycampaign.org.
About 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. It 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 find on social media at (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloCityMission and (Twitter) https://twitter.com/CityMission.