Buffalo, NY (WBEN) As the government shutdown is in its fourth week, local employees affected by the shutdown are getting help from the Food Bank.
The Food Bank is announcing 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., Jamestown, 14701 (Chautauqua County) – Wednesday, January 23, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- The Salvation Army Lockport, 50 Cottage St., Lockport, 14094 (Niagara County) – Thursday, January 24, 2019, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- The Salvation Army Tonawanda, 46 Broad St., Tonawanda, 14150 (Erie County) – Thursday, January 24, 2019, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Eden-North Collins Food Pantry, 2059 Franklin St., North Collins, 14111 (Erie County) – Friday, January 25, 2019, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Olean Food Pantry, 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, 14760 (Cattaraugus County) – Tuesday, January 29, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Food Bank says 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," Tara A. Ellis, president and CEO of the Food Bank of WNY, said. "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.
