By Carol Fisher Linn
Note from GooGoo Dolls: We hope that you can join us for a very special hometown show on Thursday, 8pm, November 20th, at Town Ballroom in Buffalo to benefit FeedMore WNY and their mission to provide nutritious food, friendship, and skills training to Western New York neighbors in need. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 12th, at 10 am local time— at Town Ballroom.com or GooGooDolls.com.
About FeedMore WNY
FeedMore WNY was born from the merger of the Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels for Western New York. According to their site, “due to a rapid increase in food insecurity among Western New York residents, current FeedMore WNY facilities are operating beyond their capacity to meet the service needs of the region. Through our food bank distribution center and partner hunger-relief agencies, as well as our home-delivered meal program and other targeted feeding programs, FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties.” In a conversation with Catherine Schick, P.R. Manager for FeedMore, they also grow their own produce in a garden and have two hydroponic farms to supply fresh vegetables year-round which are then also distributed by their Food Truck throughout our communities. The food is for sale, but reasonably priced much lower than the grocery stores, and locally grown fresh!
of WNY and Meals on Wheels for Western New York. According
to their site, “due to a rapid increase in food insecurity
among Western New York residents, current FeedMore WNY
facilities are operating beyond their capacity to meet the service
needs of the region.
FeedMore WNY’s food bank (FB) and Meals on Wheels (MOW) programs have a combined 90 years of feeding the Western New York community. In 2023, their Meals on Wheels program provided more than 1.4 million meals to homebound neighbors and through congregate dining sites. The food bank program distributed more than 14.7 million pounds of nutritious fresh and shelf-stable foods to nearly 400 pantries, soup kitchens, schools, emergency shelters, group homes and other hunger-relief agencies throughout Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties which then open their doors to those in need.
20th Annual Rock Out Hunger,
November 18-25, 2025
Join 97 Rock’s DJ Jickster as he again lives in a FeedMore WNY trailer for an entire week collecting donations of frozen turkeys, funds and foods to nourish neighbors this holiday season! Rock Out Hunger is located in the parking lot at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, 1540 Maple Road in Williamsville. Thanks to the Rock Out Hunger partners: 97 Rock, Kaleida Health and 7WKBW! (DJ Jickster has been helping the cause this week in a FeedMore truck since 2005!)
Although this drive is wonderful, and FeedMoreWNY supplies our local food pantries, if you cannot drive to Buffalo to donate – donate on line, or to your local food pantry. In general, pantries need shelf-stable proteins (such as canned tuna fish, canned chicken, peanut butter), canned vegetables, canned fruit, pasta and rice, frozen meats and vegetables. In speaking with Jan Benson about the Great Valley Pantry, they always need canned goods, hamburger, bacon, chicken, bread products, fresh fruit, canned fruit, dried fruit, potatoes, spaghetti sauce, canned hearty soups, salt, pepper, oil, rice, sugar, flour, mac and cheese. They have shelf stable milk and dairy boxes and often have butter and eggs. These are all items that can be delivered to any food pantry but be sure they have refrigeration if you are delivering fresh meats, or refrigerator items. Great Valley, 4808 Route 219 has refrigerators and freezers 716-353-2244. Folks come twice a month. Fifty five are served. Open Thursdays, 3-7pm. United Church pantry in Ellicottville at 53 Elizabeth St., 716-699-4003 is open Wednesdays 4-6PM, Saturdays 10am-12pm. Manager, Val Germaine, informs that they serve abut seventy families per month; people can come twice a month. There are food pantries all over Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties: Randolph, Fredonia, Mayville, Lakewood, Falconer, etc. To find other food pantries in our region, please go to the pantry locator at the Feedmore wny website for dates and times:feedmorewny.org.
In speaking with Jan Benson from the Great Valley pantry, she indicated a need for warm adult and children’s jackets/coats and warm sweaters. Not every food pantry has the storage for these items so please check with the one in your area if you want to donate or need one. People are asked to visit their own local pantry. It is understood if you cannot get to yours on the hours/days they are open, but it is strongly suggested that you do so if possible. Folks are asked to go to only one pantry. Monetary donations to FeedMore WNY or your food pantries are always appreciated.
In Ellicottville, goods are collected for both the Ellicottville and Great Valley Pantries at Howard Hanna Real Estate with Sandy Goode leading the charge. 6 days Mon-Sat, 9-3 or leave at front stoop.