BUFFALO, N.Y. — FeedMore WNY provides home-delivered meals to people across our region. And, when there's bad weather and it isn't safe for volunteers to make deliveries, there's a backup.
Every year, FeedMore WNY gives Blizzard Boxes to its most vulnerable home-delivered meal clients. They are people who really have no other way of getting food if the weather is bad and volunteers can't get to them.
"We do deploy these before the bad weather hits usually in the fall, very early winter, but when we know of a big storm that is coming, we always call our home-delivered meal clients to make sure that they do have enough food, that they haven't tapped into those Blizzard Boxes yet, and if they haven't, making sure that they know that now is the time you may need them," said Catherine Shick, the FeedMore WNY public relations manager.
During the storms last week, it was time for many clients to break out their Blizzard Boxes.
"It is always a last resort for FeedMore WNY to suspend any of our programs and services, but of course, we do prioritize the safety of our staff and volunteers," Shick said.
As soon as it was safe to drive again, the volunteers got back out there.
"We were not only providing those nutritious meals again that our home-delivered meal clients count on each and every day but replenishing those Blizzard Boxes for people so if there is another storm, they have even more food to help them get them through," Shick said.
On top of the Blizzard Boxes, around 560 emergency food boxes were distributed last week to people before and after the storm. A lot of the food doesn't have to be cooked, so it's still good to eat if the power goes out.
"Our home delivery meal clients have shared with us just how grateful they are for this program to know that they are going to be able to fill their bellies until we can meet with them again," Shick said.
A lot of the normal volunteers are snowbirds, so they aren't here right now and the need doesn't go away. There are also opportunities for companies to volunteer, so if you work somewhere that's looking to fill community service hours, FeedMore WNY needs your help.