November 2021 Newsletter
On Our Hearts
“With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: He is good…”
Ezra 3:11
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!”
1 Chronicles 16:34
As November brings praise and thanksgiving to God for His bounty, we also want to remember you at this time for all that we were able to accomplish through your support.
Below are programs that we are able to offer this month and stories to share of those we’ve helped because you gave, volunteered, and prayed:
Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway and Distribution
Hearts Harvest Food Pantry will be distributing turkeys and side dishes to families in our community. Along with a turkey provided through FeedMore WNY, each family will also receive: 2 jars of gravy; 2 boxes of stuffing; 1 can of sweet potatoes; 2 boxes of mashed potato mix; 1 can of green beans; 1 can of cream of mushroom soup; and 5 small bags of cranberries, thanks to your donations. Now that’s a Thanksgiving bounty to be thankful for.
Day after Thanksgiving, Full Course, Take Away Meal
Once again, this year, our friends and volunteers at Zion Dominion Global Outreach Church are providing an annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless on Friday, November 26th. Every year, they do it with their own little twist including a buffet on the street to tables set with candelabra. This year’s dinner will be a full course take away meal of turkey and the trimmings. Our friends on the street and the poor who stand in the feeding line look forward to this meal every year – it gives them that comfort of home cooking and holiday feeling.
Giving thanks for programs also produces heartwarming short stories from those we have helped recently and those who have helped us.
Hearts’ Administrative Assistant, Catherine, received a call from a woman named Lisa. She’s helping her neighbors to find assistance for an elderly man in his 80’s who is homeless. This man used to be one of their neighbors before he lost his home. They found out he was living on the streets nearby, so her neighbors took him in and are providing shelter and meals for him. Lisa called us because she knew about Hearts Mobile Soup Kitchen and our handing out of needed items to the homeless and wanted to find out if we could help. Imagine being 80 years old and living on the street! Hearts was able to help by giving needed items including blankets, clothing, toiletries, socks, and a warm winter coat to these neighbors, for this man. We are so thankful for these people who looked after and loved their neighbor just as God’s Word tells us to do.
Another bittersweet and heartwarming story was shared by Hearts’ staff member, Kathy, who told us about a local pastor who came into the thrift shop and shared about his mother who had always said that everything she owns will one day be given to Hearts. And sure enough, even from her bed on the day she passed, she implored her son, the pastor, to make sure everything she has goes to Hearts! And, sure enough he did as she asked.
Wishing you and yours a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Hearts Thrift Shop News
Come Shop at 890 Tonawanda St.
MON - SAT 10am - 5pm
Profits help us to help the homeless!
♥ A young woman came into the thrift shop and told us that she had lost her job during the pandemic. She said she prayed and asked God to help her find a new job. Her prayer was answered and God also led her to Hearts Thrift Shop. She said she is so thankful for Hearts being in the neighborhood because this was the only way she could afford to buy nice clothes for her children. She was also asking about a church that would have a good children’s ministry. Maria in the thrift shop told her about her church and invited her to attend. She accepted the invitation. This church also has a Clothe-Me Coop the second Saturday of every month which this woman can use as a resource. Having this new relationship with this woman and her family in the thrift shop and at church, allows Maria to keep her encouraged to continue on with all that God has put into her path.
♥ We continue to help families by giving them clothing at no cost when they are not able to pay. Your clothing donations make this happen. Hearts stays true to our desire to help those in need in each of our outreach programs, and having a thrift shop allows us daily to reach people in need.
“…Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
~John 3:16
“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
October 2021
Total Clients Served: 511
Homeless: 300
Male: 409
Female: 80
Seniors: 6
Children: 16
Meal Bags for Buffalo Dream Center Outreach: 400
Talk from the Street and Heart
Code Blue Started Early
Over the last few years, Hearts has partnered with the Code Blue Collaborative to send food to agencies that are sheltering the homeless when the temperature drops to freezing. This year, the City’s Code Blue Collaborative started up ahead of schedule to provide shelter to the homeless regardless of the weather and Hearts jumped right in to provide meals without causing a delay or lack in meal distribution. This has resulted in increased service levels as we provide these needed meals to these agencies via our commercial kitchen. You will begin to see the number of meals served climb as we seek out additional agencies and homeless people in need of meals. The homeless are also in need of warm clothing and winter supplies.
CURRENT NEEDS FOR HOMELESS MEALS
Canned Chicken & Baked Beans
Canned Carrots & Peas
Warm Socks & Gloves
Bring donations to Hearts at 890 Tonawanda St., Riverside Ave.
Side of building – Ring bell at kitchen door.
DO NOT LEAVE DONATIONS OUTSIDE
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 Mobile Food Pantry
The new building for our food pantry has been open since October 7th. It offers a fresh new space to welcome the community to utilize our services. We are also back to serving the Client Choice shopping experience enabling shoppers to choose what items they want and best suits their family needs all at no cost to them.
Our pantry staff and volunteers welcome those in the community who need the help from a food pantry to feed their families, Monday 12pm to 4pm, and Fridays 10am to 2pm, at Hearts
at 870 Tonawanda St. Riverside.
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 487 | 33 | 112 | 300 | 737 | 162 | 1,344 |
| Households | Infants | Toddlers | Children | Adults | Seniors | Individuals |
| 91 | 4 | 9 | 61 | 146 | 42 | 262 |
The next Mobile Food Pantry will be January 26th. Hearts Mobile Food Pantry is held every 4th Wednesday of the month (except in November & December) at Hearts Outreach Center at 890 Tonawanda St., Riverside, from 1pm to 3pm (sign-in at 12:30pm). Families in our community can come as often as we have them as a supplement to our onsite food pantry.
**** Some of these photos are pre-Covid