The Food Bank of Western New York unveiled a brand new refrigerated truck that will now serve Cattaraugus County. WBFO’s senior reporter Eileen Buckley says the Food Bank is expanding its Direct Delivery Program.
A Food Bank employee loaded the brand new refrigerated truck with pallets of perishable items.
“This will allow us to bring the food directly to the agencies, taking the financial burden and the time burden off of them, and putting it right into the hands of the clients who are hunger – none of us want to see our neighbors hungry,” stated Tara Ellis, president & CEO, Food Bank of Western New York.
Ellis said they serve 34-agenices in Cattaraugus County.
“It is so difficult in the rural communities to have access to food, jobs – to the basic necessities. Transportation is virtual impossible, so how do they get to those food sources unless we help them make that possible. This is making sure that no child – no senior is going to bed hungry or waking up to nothing to put in their stomach,” remarked Ellis.
Ellis tells WBFO News hunger is a growing problem in rural communities. In Cattaraugus the organization already serve nearly 10,000 people.
“Sadly, there are one in eight individuals currently facing hunger in our network and unfortunately that number is growing. As you know, our senior population is increasing. Many of them are having to make the choice between heat, rent and food – that is not a choice that we want our neighbors to have to make,” responded Ellis.
The new 26-foot refrigerated truck is a “Partners Fighting Hunger” vehicle, helping transport fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy into the rural community.
“We are fresh proteins, health things like turkey and beef, lettuce and apples and those are the types of products that are really difficult to get into our rural communities – this will allow us to bring food directly to the agencies,” Ellis replied.