How To Use Food Banks In Western New York

With inflation continuing to rise nationwide and incomes struggling to keep pace with the cost of living, the pressure to make ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult every day. Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, the federal government shutdown, which is now extending into its fourth week, is having a harder impact on the Americans who need our government the most.

Over the last month, while the federal government has been closed, all sorts of services that are key and critical to Americans have been unavailable. On top of that, there are hundreds of thousands of federal employees who have been required to keep working but are not getting paid. Right here in Western New York, more than 10,000 people work for the United States but have not seen any money coming in.

Now it seems that things are going to get worse for the poorest New Yorkers, as federal officials have said they have no plans to extend SNAP benefits to millions while the government is shut down. So, after October 30th, the Federal Treasury and the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service will issue no more benefits.

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That means millions of people who rely on these critical services to survive day to day will essentially be on thier own. However, it's not all doom as there are community-based resources like soup kitchens, community fridges, and food banks all over that can help stand in the gap.

But where are the food pantries, and how do you use them if you need them?

Where Are The Food Pantries In The Buffalo Area?

Living in the city of good neighbors has its benefits, one of the key ones being that the people of Buffalo are very generous. There are several food banks in the area that you can use if you need them.

There are several around the region. Some of the bigger ones are the City Mission Pantry on Tupper in downtown Buffalo, the Salvation Army Pantry on Main Street in Buffalo, the Kenmore Food Pantry on Delaware in Kenmore, Community Missions Food Pantry on Buffalo Ave in Niagara Falls, and others.

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FeedMore WNY maintains a very comprehensive list of food pantries and soup kitchens on its website. You can use your zip code to search for the one closest to you.

How Do You Get Supplies From A Food Bank?

Given the current conditions of our society, there is a lot of uncertainty in the world today. One thing that you don't need to worry about is judgment or not being able to find the support you need. Getting supplies from most food pantries is pretty easy, and the process isn't difficult.

The key things you need to know are the time and location of each bank and pantry, because many have limited operating hours. Because of this, sometimes the lines can be long, so if you're going to one, make sure you get there early.

Plus, not every bank and pantry requires ID, but it's best to bring it just in case.

More important than anything else, remember that we're here to help each other; so if you don't need anything from a food bank, your local food bank can use your help by making donations or volunteering.