ROOM AT THE TABLE - Intersight - University at Buffalo

as well. Private institutions such as hospitals and assisted living facilities
distribute a large number of foods to both their clients and employees.
C. Emergency Food Providers
The main purpose of emergency food providers is to alleviate shortterm
symptoms of hunger. Although these programs may not transform
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Erie County poor are fed at least one daily meal. The poor and elderly
are generally the recipients of these services, usually in the form of a hot
prepared meal. In Erie County, there are a variety of organizations that make
these services available to an estimated 123,150 (13.9% of total population)
low­income individuals.
The Food Bank of WNY, located in downtown Buffalo, is a large
supplier of food to Erie County’s hungry. The Food Bank of WNY acts as
both a collector and distributor of food throughout the Western New York
region, and distributes food to smaller agencies that subsequently provide
food directly to the poor. The Food Bank provides food to 227 food shelters,
pantries, and soup kitchens in Erie County alone. 20 In 2009, the Food Bank
distributed more than 1.2 million meals every month to hungry households
in Western New York, 62 percent of which were to Erie County residents. 21
The Food Bank receives their food donations from two different sources:
local donations and food drives sponsored by various businesses and
individuals and the rest from the state and federal governments. 22
In 2009, the Food Bank distributed close to $11.5 million worth of
food to WNY. 23 Erie County residents received 62 percent, or $7.08 million,
of this food distributed through agencies such as food pantries and soup
kitchens. *5
The Food Shuttle of WNY serves a similar purpose as the Food Bank.
Located in Williamsville, New York, this organization collects excess and
County Holding Center, Erie County Jail, and the Buffalo Correctional Facility.
* The Food Bank converts the weight of their donations to an estimated amount of dollars
that would have been spent had the food been directly purchased.
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Figure 4.9 – Erie County Farmers’ Markets
(Map: Authors.
Data Source: NY Dept. of Ag and Markets)