June 2021 Newsletter
On Our Hearts
Warm Weather Approaching
“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:4
This is the time of year we begin to change our focus to the warmer weather needs of the poor and homeless people that we reach through Hearts Mobile Soup Kitchen. During this year’s warmer season, we are serving something we have never served before. We added “cold sides” to our spring/summer menu a couple weeks ago. Each day of the week that we’ve gone downtown to distribute meals, every person in the feeding line has been receiving a “cold side” to complement their sandwich, dessert, and drink. These “cold sides” have been a big hit so far! Each night, we serve a different kind: fresh fruit salad, Italian pasta salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, and Jell-O parfait. It is very encouraging to our volunteer Mobile Crew teams to see the smiles on their faces or hear a comment of how happy they are to be receiving them.
Hearts also puts away the fleece and warm-wear items and begins to bring out summer shorts, t-shirts and other warmer weather clothing. While donors have been asking what provisions the homeless need during the warmer weather, the homeless have been letting their needs be known to our Mobile Crews. For those of you who are looking to organize a clothing drive, clean out your closet, or just buy a few needed items, you will find the summer items that have recently been most asked for, listed below.
Summer Favorites for the Homeless: t-shirts, shorts, footwear (sneakers & sandals), socks, baseball caps, sleeping bags, backpacks, toiletries (razors, shaving cream, deodorant, bar soap, tissues or wipes).
Help Keep the Homeless & Poor Hydrated this Summer
As part of our feeding program at the Downtown Library, Hearts hands out ice cold bottled water during the summer months. Would you consider donating bottled water again this year? You can bring personal sized bottled water to our outreach center at 890 Tonawanda St., Buffalo, 14207 Riverside Ave. side of building.
Clothing Donations
We are so grateful for all of your donations. We also have a bin onsite at our outreach center at 890 Tonawanda Street; you can find the bins located in your area by going to our website at www.heartsforthehomeless.org, click on Bin Finder, put in your zip code and those in your area will appear.
Hearts Thrift Shop News
Hearts Thrift Shop has limitless kindnesses that the staff imparts on a daily basis, even our customers carry out acts of charity for other customers, many of which go unreported. Here are some we know about.
♥ One of Hearts Thrift Shop’s regular customers was so excited to find a long, black dress and a matching sparkly jacket to wear to her son’s wedding this month. She also found a pair of shoes. She told us she could not afford to go to a bridal shop because they are too expensive for her. She said she prayed and asked the Lord that if Hearts had something that was suitable for the wedding to guide her to it when she was at Hearts shopping. As she approached the cash-out counter, she could not wait to show us what she had found, she was so excited.
♥ Hurry in to get what you need for your summer season – you will find men’s women’s & kid’s clothing, footwear, and all kinds of household necessities and home décor.
♥ Current Deals: Children’s shoes $1 off; Ladies sleeveless shirts 3/$6.99; Ladies short/long-sleeved shirts 2/$5.
Remember, when you shop you are supporting our outreach to the homeless, poor and local community.
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter”
~Isaiah 58:7
Lives Touched Last Month
May 2021
Total Clients Served: 1,649
Homeless: 1,544
Male: 1,548
Female: 98
Seniors: 3
Children: 0
Meal Bags for Buffalo Dream Center Outreach: 400
Talk from the Street and Heart
Here’s how you help Hearts take great care of our homeless and poor. And, for that they are grateful!
Reflecting back on serving the homeless pre-COVID. |
Mobile Crew Volunteer Opportunity Saturdays, 4pm to 6pm.
Hearts Harvest Food Pantry
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 422 | 27 | 68 | 357 | 801 | 70 | 1,323 |
Our food pantry volunteers were excited to receive and wear their new volunteer badges. It is a help for the patrons of our food pantry to know who is there to assist them and gives our volunteers a sense of belonging. |
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 62 | 5 | 25 | 58 | 108 | 20 | 216 |
Once a month, Hearts operates a Mobile Food Pantry (this is in addition to our regular food pantry hours). Individuals and families in our community are welcome to come as often as we have them and it does not count against your regular pantry visits. Stay tuned for exciting news about the Mobile Food Pantry! |
