September 2024 Newsletter

By Hearts for the Homeless | September 11, 2024

Alleviating Food Insecurity: Our Shared Responsibility

Back in September 2023, Hearts shared the news of the Hearts Food Pantry Express expansion to Livingston County. Hearts was awarded a $50,000 grant to pilot the Food Pantry Express program in Livingston County. We partnered with the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) to take the bus on the road from Buffalo and had the opportunity to serve those in need with the dignity of a client-choice food pantry for the first time on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

It’s fair to say that the launch of Hearts’ Food Pantry Express at Elim Life Church (ELC) in Livingston County was an overwhelming success, praise God! Leading up to the service day, ELC printed out 550 flyers and went door to door to local businesses and community spots around the county spreading the word about the program. One of the volunteers said that “word of mouth is everything” in their community and she heard people talking about the pantry bus coming the week before the launch around town and at the senior center/community center.

As Hearts for the Homeless® and its programs continue to grow, so does our awareness of food insecurity. We now have the chance to support those facing food insecurity outside the city limits and beyond Erie County. Food insecurity is not just an inner city issue. Food insecurity is everywhere. In a report from the New York State Comptroller, 24.9% of households are food insecure across New York State. These are children who go to bed hungry, senior citizens who have to decide between buying groceries and purchasing medication, and parents who go without so their children can have enough to eat.

At the end of the three hours of service in July, Hearts served 30 families, 105 individuals, and 630 meals! We went to Lima to be a blessing and drove home completely blessed ourselves. Throughout the day, both the clients and ELC team all shared how they felt the love of God so strongly you couldn’t run from His love, and we couldn’t agree more! Everyone walked away “fed” that day.

Help us fight food insecurity
across Western New York

Hearts Harvest Food Pantry

“Very clean, very organized and the people are very helpful.”– Cadis G.

In August, Hearts Harvest Food Pantry Served 24,111 Meals

Households	Infants	Toddlers	Children	Adults	Seniors	Individuals
661	21	68	1,121	1,269	200	2,679

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

“I only get $23 in food stamps so this helps supplement my groceries.” – Brad S.

In August, Hearts Mobile Food Pantry Expresses Served 4,527 Meals

Households	Infants	Toddlers	Children	Adults	Seniors	Individuals
190	7	24	143	219	192	503

Hearts Food Pantry Express at Christ United Methodist Church serves Mondays 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM. Hearts Food Pantry Express at Buffalo First Church of the Nazarene serves Thursdays 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Hearts Food Pantry Express at Livingston County serves on the 2nd Wednesday of the month 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Hearts Mobile Food Pantry

“Good variety of food and very friendly people.” – Monica C.

In August, Hearts Mobile Food Pantry Expresses Served 420 Meals

Households	Infants	Toddlers	Children	Adults	Seniors	Individuals
127	1	4	171	188	56	420

Hearts Mobile Food Pantry is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Hearts Campus from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Huddle For Hunger

We’re excited to be working with the Buffalo Bills Foundation as a beneficiary of their 50/50 Raffle! The net charitable proceeds from this 50/50 raffle will be donated to local nonprofits that address hunger in Western New York. Tickets are on sale now!

Thank You Volunteers

We had so many helpful volunteers on the Hearts Campus during last month’s Mobile Food Pantry. We want to give a shout out to the students from Orchard Park High School, students from Canisius University PA program and the woman from the Elim Christian Fellowship. We want to say THANK YOU!