BUFFALO, N.Y. (November 9, 2012) — The Buffalo Sabres Foundation and Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association today hosted an event that will provide more than 40,000 meals – 5,000 of which will be sent to the hardest-hit areas of New York City and New Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Sandy – to under-fed kids and families throughout the community. The event, held in partnership with Lutheran Charities of Western New York, took place on the arena floor of First Niagara Center.
“Buffalo has a reputation as a city where neighbors look after neighbors and we all strive to make our community the best it possibly can be,” said Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black. “As an organization, the Sabres recognized this very pressing need for assistance to under-fed families throughout this area and, after last week’s storm, the many people downstate who need a little help. Friday’s event will go a long way in helping out these people and showing that their neighbors are here to support them.”
More than 150 volunteers including several Sabres alumni worked to pack the meals that were loaded on trucks and sent out for delivery. 5,000 of the meals will be immediately driven to the New York City/New Jersey area to help stock food pantries and mobile kitchens that are providing relief to those affected by last week’s devastating storm.
“We have 38,000 kids in WNY who aren’t sure where their next nutritious meal is coming from,” said Steve Biegner, executive director of Lutheran Charities. “And now, due to Hurricane Sandy, our brothers and sisters on the New York and New Jersey shorelines face that same problem. We’re so thankful that the Sabres organizations have stepped into this gap with Lutheran Charities to fill the need.”
The meals that are being packaged are part of an initiative to package 100,000 nutritious meals in WNY in the 2012-13 school year.
Matthew Martin, director of Outreach Inc’s Kid’s Meal Packaging Program, is responsible for bringing all the materials and food supplies to the sites throughout the community. He will complete packaging his group’s one millionth meal to feed hungry kids during Friday’s event.
Note: Readers of NY Hockey Online wishing to assist hurricane victims can do so by donating to the Red Cross. A poster linked to the American Red Cross donation site is located on the home page of NY Hockey Online.
