August 2024 Newsletter
Building A Brighter Future
Hearts for the Homeless® has nourished more than just stomachs. Since 1990, through God’s grace and your help, we’ve nurtured hope, fueled dreams, and helped to build a community where dignity isn’t just served, it’s celebrated.
For close to 25 years, the commercial kitchen at Hearts has largely remained unchanged and has been preparing meals to serve those in need year after year. In turn, impacting the lives of tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters. Since 1997, the Commercial Kitchen at Hearts has served a total of 530,987 meals. For over two decades Hearts served an average of 12,000 meals annually to men, women, and children through our Mobile Soup Kitchen. Since 2019, Hearts has been an evening meal provider for the Code Blue emergency shelters. Over the last five years, we’ve served an average of 34,890 meals annually; a 190% increase or around three times what the kitchen was designed for.
Originally designed specifically for the Hearts Mobile Soup Kitchen, the kitchen has become stretched to capacity and to its capabilities. As Staff and volunteers prepare meals using donated produce and other items, the kitchen’s limitations are becoming evident. For years, our Mobile Soup Kitchen has been a beacon of warmth and sustenance for countless individuals struggling with homelessness and making ends meet.
The bustling commercial kitchen now faces its own challenge – keeping up with the ever-growing demand. As a result, we have been working on a major renovation project that will transform the capacity and capabilities of Hearts’ kitchen. This transformation will upgrade outdated equipment to new state-of-the-art equipment in order to better serve those in need long into the future.
We are pleased to announce this renovation is starting soon! This project has been blessed with several significant donations; our prayers for this project were answered! Thank you to everyone who has supported this project. We look forward to sharing an update on the completed renovation in the near future.
Please help with ongoing support for the daily programs that serve thousands of community members a month.
Hearts Harvest Food Pantry
“My family struggles each month and we rely on the pantry for help.” – Maria D.
In July, Hearts Harvest Food Pantry Served 19,665 Meals
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 603 | 26 | 65 | 851 | 1079 | 164 | 2,185 |
Hearts Harvest Food Pantry serves the Riverside community
Tuesdays 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM and Fridays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Hearts Food Pantry Express
“This helps us with extra food and thank you to Hearts for all you do.” – Eric H.
In June, Hearts Mobile Food Pantry Expresses Served 2,772 Meals
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 119 | 3 | 7 | 97 | 160 | 60 | 308 |
Hearts Food Pantry Express at Christ United Methodist Church serves Mondays 12:30 PM – 4:40 PM. Hearts Food Pantry Express at Buffalo First Church of the Nazarene serves Thursdays 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Hearts Mobile Food Pantry
“We like the people that run it and we appreciate the food so much. And the extras like Bombas socks and lightbulbs.” – Shannon F.
In June, Hearts Mobile Food Pantry Expresses Served 414 Meals
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 121 | 1 | 0 | 172 | 185 | 56 | 414 |
Hearts Mobile Food Pantry is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Hearts Campus from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood Missouri Youth Group
This group of students traveled all the way from Missouri to volunteer throughout our Western New York Community! On Wednesday, July 10th, they choose to volunteer their time, all day, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM on the Hearts Campus and we are so incredibly grateful! It was a pleasure to have them!
