FeedMore WNY, a western New York state hunger relief organization, is providing fresh produce and other foods from New York growers to veterans.
The organization, which serves Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties, will be supplying boxes of onions, potatoes, apples, cabbage and other food through a partnership with WNY Heroes Inc., a non-profit veteran’s service organization. The food is through the state’s Nourish NY program, which provides food from New York growers and producers.
Through Nourish NY, FeedMore WNY has provided 1.22 million pounds of food to people, including more than 450,000 pounds of produce from the state’s growers, according to a news release.
Food boxes for 800 veterans will be distributed at the WNY Heroes office in Williamsville on Dec. 29.
“New Yorkers continue to need food and farmers and producers continue to need markets for their products as the COVID-19 pandemic continues,” Richard Ball, New York State commissioner of agriculture, said in the release. “We are proud that the Nourish NY program has been able to help New Yorkers in need, including our veterans, while supporting our agricultural producers. I applaud our food bank partners, such as FeedMore WNY, for their non-stop efforts during this challenging time.”
Christopher Krieger, founder, president and CEO of WNY Heroes, said the need among veterans is higher than ever.
“Veterans who were helping other vets last year now need help themselves,” Krieger said in the release. “Because of COVID, some have lost their jobs and others have had serious health problems. At the same time, those veterans who needed assistance in the past now need more.”
