Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Thanksgiving holiday just got a little brighter for 300 Buffalo families thanks to a donation being overseen by a joint public-private partnership.
The City of Buffalo teamed up with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the West Herr Automotive Group and Tops Friendly Market to create donated Thanksgiving dinner packages that included turkeys, canned vegetables and even pumpkin pie. The packages were given to 300 Buffalo families, most of whom were economically challenged.
"I am beyond grateful and thankful," said Diana Barclay, an East Side resident who was waiting outside Buffalo City Hall Thursday morning to collect her Thanksgiving package. "Just the price of turkeys is way too expensive for me."
Michael Ball, Highmark vice president for community affairs, said backing the Thanksgiving donation program is a no-brainer.
"No one in Buffalo should go hungry, especially on Thanksgiving," Ball said.
The 300 turkeys, paid for by West Herr are part of more than 5,000 turkeys the car dealership will be donating to needy families this holiday season, said company President and CEO Scott Bieler.
West Herr has been donating turkeys to area families for more than five years and will continue to do so well into the future, Bieler said.
But, to see on a face-to-face level the donations and who is receiving them makes it even more special, Bieler said.
"It brings it to the forefront," Bieler said. "To make someone's day special...what's better than that."
Scanlon agrees.
"To actually see the look on someone's face, how do you beat that?," Scanlon said.
Bieler called the entire experience "rewarding."
"The joy of giving is way better than the joy of receiving," Bieler said.