By Carol Fisher-Lynn
FeedMore WNY supplies food, perishables and operational support to more than 300 member agencies and food pantries across Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Countries. For the past twenty-one years they have received the generous support of the WNY community as they present 97 Rock’s Operation Rock Out Hunger, hosted by DJ Jickster. Thanks to 97 Rock, Kaleida Health and 7 WKBW, 97 Rock’s DJ Jickster is headed back to the FeedMore WNY trailer to greet the public and accept donations.
A Buffalo media fixture, WNY radio personality and community advocate, Jickster has made the inside of a semi-truck his temporary home, despite our famous unpredictable, generally frigid November weather in WNY. Jickster, through Operation: Rock Out Hunger has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of tons of food for those less fortunate in our communities.
Jickster will take up residence in a food truck/trailer for a week (Nov. 17-24) at Buffalo Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, 1540 Maple Road in front of the main entrance to collect food and funds while raising awareness for FeedMore’s mission and giving back to those in need. DJ Jickster will live in the trailer accepting donations of food, funds and frozen turkeys to support food-insecure individuals and families during the holiday season. If you can’t make it to Buffalo, you can still donate a monetary gift to FeedMore WNY, 100 James E. Casey Dr., Buffalo, NY 14206.
Catherine Shick at FeedMoreWNY stated: “We at FeedMore are so very grateful to DJ Jickster. It is now twenty-one years that he has graciously given us his time and energy to help bring to the forefront the increasing nutritional needs of so many in the WNY area, especially now, with the loss of SNAP and other food assistance programs.”
If you are donating food, FeedMore requests that you do not donate anything in glass containers. They are most in need of shelf-stable proteins (such as canned tuna fish, canned chicken, peanut butter), low sodium canned vegetables, low sugar canned fruit, whole wheat pasta and rice and frozen turkeys. Beyond the holiday list, FeedMore WNY continuously relies on everyday shelf-stable goods like cereals and whole grains, canned soups, stews, chili, boxed mac and cheese, dried or canned beans or lentils, baby food, infant formula and diapers and adult personal care items. Each month FeedMore distributes more than 1 million pounds of goods to partner pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and mobile distributions. If you are in need of food, go to “pantry locator” at feedmorewny,org. It will lead you to the closest food pantry or farm market truck in your area.
For donation inquiries at FeedMore, contact Betsy Campbell at bcampbell@feedmorewny.org. For any other questions please call (716) 822-2002 or contact them at
hello@feedmorewny.org
Closer to home, the third annual Ellicottville Community Thanksgiving dinner at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in partnership with the Ellicottville Rotary Club is Wednesday Nov. 25, 5-7pm. No reservations needed. Everyone is welcome.
Enjoy a Thanksgiving meal Thursday Nov. 26 11am-1pm at Community Cares Center, 26 Mill St. in Cattaraugus -dine in or take out available. Reservations – 716-257-3077
CCA – Connecting Communities in Action– 25 Jefferson Street Salamanca is holding their holiday box distribution on Thursday, November 19 between 9am and 2pm. Each holiday package includes a shelf-stable food box filled with meal essentials and a frozen turkey. Call 716-945-1041 to register.
Olean Food Pantries offer free turkeys and the trimmings until November 23
Chautauqua County: Conduit Ministries will hold their annual Thanksgiving Give-Away Program on Saturday Nov. 21 at 2pm.
Conduit ministries and partner churches will distribute 1800 free, complete prepare-at-home Thanksgiving dinner (and a foil pan) on a first-come, first -served basis with no questions asked. Chili and hot cocoa will be served on-site. Locations: Bemus Point Methodist Church, Living Faith Bible Church, Mayville, Celeron Park, Ellery Park, Panama Methodist Church, TRZ in Frewsburg, Falconer and Jamestown High Schools, Washington Middle School, Love School, Bush School, Fletcher School, Persell Middle School and Warren First Church of the Nazarene in Warren PA.
Things to do to build up an appetite:
5K Turkey Trot Nov 26, 8am start at Warrior Fitness and Wellness, 5 Park Ave., through the village of Ellicottville. No entrance fee. Optional cash donations for Ellicottville Playground and non-perishable food pantry items will be gratefully accepted. (Read more on the cover.)
Olean YMCA annual 5K turkey trot, Thursday November 26, 7:30amt., Allegany – 1:30pm. St. Bonaventure University Campus 3261 W. State Street.
Let’s all work together as one united community to assure that all of our neighbors will have a happy Thanksgiving