BUFFALO, N.Y. — You've donated a can of soup, a box of pasta or some canned vegetables to a FeedMore WNY donation location, but do you know where it goes from there?
Its journey begins at the FeedMore WNY warehouse.
Once your donation is dropped off, the work doesn't stop there.
Volunteers are hard at work sorting through the donations, checking items for quality and placing them in the appropriate bins.
"Volunteers are sorting it, checking it, putting it in the appropriate bin, and then a different volunteer group is going to package it up," Collin Bishop, Feedmore WNY Chief Communications Officer said.
With approximately 4,000 active volunteers working around the clock, the FeedMore warehouse is a bustling hub of activity. But the work doesn’t end in the warehouse.
FeedMore's efforts to serve the community are massive.
In 2023 alone, the organization distributed more than 13 million pounds of food, more than a million pounds every month. This food travels out the doors of FeedMore to 400 partner agencies which help serve families in need across Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus counties.
"All of those partner agencies are able to go online and order what they need directly from our warehouse, and we send out that delivery to them," Bishop said. "Day in, day out, Feedmore is the food bank for Western New York, and so we're working with those partner agencies who are the front line in terms of getting food to families in need
Among those who are on the front lines of this mission is Mubarak, a refugee from Sudan who now works at the Response to Love Center, one of FeedMore’s partner agencies.
"I'm the one who normally takes care of everything here, so everyday I make sure that all the shelf is filled" Mubarak said.
Mubarak shared his story of how he once relied on resources like the Response to Love Center to feed himself, and now, he is giving back by ensuring that others have food.
"I get the opportunity to work here and help somebody like me," Mubarak said.
Mubarak’s story is just part of a mission Sister Mary Johnice has been crafting for 40 yaers.
"It's a partnership that's personal. It's not a business that's out there saying this is what we're gonna give ya. What's the community need now? And that's how we're partnering with Feedmore," Sister Johnice said.
