Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - What began 27 years ago as a symbolic gesture to draw attention to the homeless in Buffalo has grown and is now the annual "Boxes of Love" distribution of food and presents by volunteers from the Buffalo Dream Center.
"Year after year, it has grown and grown and continues to grow," said Pastor Eric Johns, Buffalo Dream Center founder and leader of the "Boxes of Love" program.
But, what Johns continues to need are volunteers and donations. The packing of the "Boxes of Love" packages begins on Nov. 19.
"Boxes of Love" began as an outgrowth from Johns spending many nights sleeping outside with the homeless to help draw attention to their plight.
Initially, the program began with the Buffalo Dream Center giving toys and presents away to needy city children.
Economics led to adding food into the packages and now, Johns said, more than 3,500 Buffalo families will be receiving the packages beginning in early December.
"The sad reality is that now we are feeding more people than ever," Johns said.
More than 1 million pounds of food will be distributed through the "Boxes of Love" program. That includes canned goods, fresh vegetables and fruit, turkey and chicken.
More than 5,000 toys and presents will also be distributed.
The food comes from a variety of donated sources including local support and some national assistance from groups like Feed the Hungry and Feed the Children.
Distribution will be made in various Buffalo neighborhoods. Advance notice will be given when the Dream Center trucks will arrive.
"The neighborhoods will know when we are coming," Johns said.
"Boxes of Love" is an adjunct of the Dream Center's monthly distribution of food in Buffalo neighborhoods.
Pre-Covid, the center was distributing monthly food allocations to about 400 families. During Covid, it ballooned to more than 1,700 families per month.
Lately, it averages about 1,10 families per month.
"But, last Friday (Nov. 14) more than 800 families came to us when we hit Black Rock," Johns said.
"Boxes of Love" culiminates on Christmas Eve when the Buffalo Dream Center serves a lasagna dinner to more than 300 homeless people - an event that has been going on for more than 20 years.
Johns said volunteers and donations are still needed for "Boxes of Love" and people can get more information at BuffaloDreamCenters.org.