More than 3,000 holiday meals were delivered to the elderly, impoverished, and those who can’t venture out for themselves. It’s usually the kind of job done by Western New York’s Meals on Wheels volunteers. But on Christmas day, they got a break from the Buffalo City Mission.
The Hambone Express has been a tradition at the Buffalo City Mission for more than two decades. Meals are prepared for delivery around 8 a.m. on Christmas day, packed into vehicles for those in need, and taken door-to-door. But this year, cooking for the annual event was impeded by construction for the mission’s new men’s community center.
Manager of Volunteers Sue Cervi said the job got done with the help of the mission’s local partner, Meals on Wheels of Western New York.
“Meals on Wheels has been very gracious, and we’ve been using their space. We did at Thanksgiving and we did for Christmas,” said Cervi.
It takes more than just kitchen space to make the Hambone Express a success. It’s the volunteers who make it possible.
“Our volunteers in the community are awesome,” said Cervi. “We have wonderful folks who give up their heart and their time, and they came out on Christmas morning to serve a community in need. And what I love to see is that families make this a tradition with themselves as well.”
131 teams made this year's deliveries possible.
