Collaborating with the Community

“For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14

Being part of a community means you can rely on your neighbors to support you in your time of need. When many people in the community are struggling, it takes a collective effort to obtain the resources needed to provide aid. 

To better serve the historically under-served West Side of Buffalo, stakeholders such as corporations, churches, faith-based nonprofits, other nonprofits, and community members have come together to form the West Side Promise Neighborhood initiative. The WSPN believes in letting the community lead the way in asking for what they need and providing support and resources when asked. 

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

To address food security on the West Side, the WSPN created the Food Security Council in order to concentrate resources, expertise, and community into collective efforts to improve the state of food security of the 14207 zip code. As a WSPN Associate Member and the only FeedMore Certified Food Pantry in 14207, Hearts is dedicated to serving those experiencing chronic homelessness or poverty in Buffalo’s West Side. 

At Hearts for the Homeless, we rely on community members to help us help neighbors in need. Our team of staff and volunteers help keep our programs, such as the Mobile Soup Kitchen, Hearts Thrift Shop, and the Hearts Food Pantry running smoothly. Thanks to their support, we were able to not only keep our programs functioning, but also help more people than ever before when the pandemic hit.

Hearts for the Homeless employees help by driving trucks to pick up donations from our 400+ donation bins across Buffalo, working in our warehouses, and more! Volunteers help customers at the Hearts Thrift Shop, assist kitchen staff to prepare food for the Mobile Soup Kitchen, distribute food five nights a week, and give hope and empathy to those in need.

If you would like to make an impact and give back to the community, consider joining our team! Apply for one of our volunteer opportunities or open employment positions.