18-03-2025
‘March for Meals' provides healthy food for homebound adults in WNY
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — When volunteers with FeedMore WNY drop off nutritious meals to neighbors in the Western New York community–they're also helping demonstrate what the city of good neighbors is all about.
'They're not just delivering that nutritious meal, but we're offering that friendship, that wellbeing check to let our neighbor know that they're not alone, they have people in the community to count on,' said Catherine Shick, public relations manager at FeedMore. 'We know that our older adult population is continuing to grow in our community which means more and more people are going to be turning to programs like our meals on wheels services to help live independently as long as possible.'
FeedMore WNY's home delivered meals program, Meals on Wheels, serves thousands of people in Erie and Niagara County, who are older adults or are homebound, receive nutritious meals.
'This program not only helps people who are homebound, who cannot get out of the house to shop or prepare food, but it helps the caregivers,' said Shick. 'These people who are trying to make sure that their parents, their grandparents, are able to have nutritious food and support when they're not with them.'
Every March, they participate in 'March for Meals' to help bring national awareness to the 13 million older Americans who are threatened by or experience hunger.
'March is actually the anniversary of the Older Americans Act that provides a significant funding source for meals on wheels programing and that is why we take this moment in March to spread awareness on the vitality of these programs and how they really do help change lives,' said Shick.
During the week of 'March for Meals,' each day community leaders are helping lend a hand to volunteer on some of the routes.
Erie County Legislator Laurence Dupre says he's been participating in 'March for Meals' for several years now, and believes it's even more important this year with all the federal funding cuts that are happening.
'With the way things are happening federally, who knows, all we can do is prepare and take care of ours and what we can do locally,' said Dupre.
For anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer you can find out more information on FeedMore WNY's website here or call (716) 822-2002.
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
