FeedMore WNY sees uptick in volunteers amid pandemic

FeedMore Western New York is seeing a major uptick in volunteers willing to help out.

But while there are many helping at the warehouse, FeedMore still needs volunteers for the Meals on Wheels program.

DURING TOUGH TIMES-- THE CITY OF GOODNEIGHBORS ALWAYSSTEPS UP.7 EYEWITNESS NEWSREPORTER ALAERREBHI SHOWS USTHE BUFFALO STRONGSPIRIT IN COUNTLESSVOLUNTEERS.... WHOARE HELPINGSTRUGGLING FAMILIESTHROUGH THISPANDEMIC.FEEDMORE WESTERNNEW YORK IS SEEINGA MAJOR UPTICK INVOLUNTEERS WILLINGTO HELP OUT.WE MEET TWOORCHARD PARK HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTSVOLUNTEERING ONTHEIR OWN TIME ATFEEDMORE'SWAREHOUSE."I'VE BEEN LUCKYENOUGH TO BE BORNINTO A POSITIONWHERE I'VE NEVERHAD TO WORRY ABOUTWHERE MY NEXT MEALIS COMING.

SO BEINGABLE TO USE THATPRIVILEGE HAS BEENAWESOME BECAUSE ITHINK IT'S REALLYIMPORTANT THATWE'RE ABLE TO GIVEBACK TO OURCOMMUNITY.""SINCE I HAVE THETIME AND I'M ABLE TODO THIS, I THINK THISIS A REALLY GOOD WAYTO HELP OUT OTHERPEOPLE IN NEED."VOLUNTEERS ARECHECKING FOODITEMS FOR QUALITY;MAKING SURENOTHING IS OPENEDOR EXPIRED BEFOREGETTING SORTED INTOBOXES THAT WILL GOTO YOUNG STUDENTS.AMID THIS PANDEMIC,SOME STUDENTS ANDPARENTS REALLYDON'T KNOW WHENTHEY'LL HAVE THEIRNEXT MEAL."I THINK THAT'S WHATMAKES IT EVEN MOREIMPORTANT BECAUSEOBVIOUSLY BEFOREALL THIS, IT WASGREAT TOVOLUNTEER.

BUT THEFACT THAT WE'REDOING WHILE THERE'SAN ONGOINGPANDEMIC MAKES ITMORE IMPORTANT.BECAUSE IT'S EVENHARDER FOR THESEPEOPLE TO GETFOOD."OVER AT THEGRASSROOTSGARDENS, YOU'LL FINDMORE VOLUNTEERS."WE DID A LITTLE BIGOF HARVESTING ANDSOME WEEDINGTODAY.""THESE ARE ROUGHTIMES FOREVERYBODY AND IFEEL ANY LITTLE BIT ICAN GIVE TO OURCOMMUNITY ISHELPFUL.""THIS IS OUR FIRSTTIME AND WE'REPLANNING CONTINUETO DOING THIS, YOUKNOW GIVE OUT TOOUR COMMUNITY."BUT WHILE THERE AREMANY HELPING AT THEWAREHOUSE,FEEDMORE STILLNEEDS VOLUNTEERSFOR THE MEALS ONWHEELS PROGRAM.THE PROGRAM HASSEEN A SIGNIFICANTINCREASE SINCE THEPANDEMIC STARTED,AND THEY'VE ADDED73 NEW ROUTES TOTHEIR SERVICE AREASIN ERIE AND NIAGARACOUNTIES."WE HAVE SSIGNIFICANTINCREASE AND A NEEDFOR VOLUNTEERSFOR THAT PROGRAM.SO WE'RE REALLYSTILL LOOKING FORPEOPLE WHO MAYBECAN TAKE AN HOUROUT OF THEIR DAY ATLUNCH TIME TO GOOUT AND BRINGNUTRITIOUS MEALS TOOUR NEIGHBORS INNEED."ANYONE CANVOLUNTEER THROUGHTHE FEEDMORE WNYWEBSITE.

YOU CANFIND THE LINK ONWKBW.COMIN BUFFALO, AE, 7EWN.