GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) — Last month, about 2,700 miles away in Blaine, Washington, the U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector turned snowballs into donations through the "Snowball Challenge."
Today I am issuing the Snowball Challenge to my counterparts along the Northern Border. 10 snowballs will be thrown at me- for each one that hits, I will donate 10lbs of food to a local food bank. As part of @CBP we are #USBP and proud members of our community! pic.twitter.com/laK1mavv1M
— Acting Chief Patrol Agent Tony Holladay (@USBPChiefBLW) January 17, 2020
Sixty pounds of food donated to a local food bank in Blaine, but giving back didn't stop in Washington. The Acting Chief there extended the challenge to fellow Northern Border Sectors including here in Buffalo.
I’ve completed my end of the deal-60lbs for the local food bank! #USBP is a part of the #community! And yes- I rounded up- some of those snowballs came very close! Thanks to all who stepped up! #HonorFirst pic.twitter.com/WC7uHaW8Cz
— Acting Chief Patrol Agent Tony Holladay (@USBPChiefBLW) January 29, 2020
"We just had to wait for the appropriate time -- snow -- to complete the challenge," U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Eduardo Payan said.
Ten snowballs, a few misses, but four tosses successfully aimed at the Chief, translated to 40 pounds of food for the community. Chief Payan says this is a fun way the Buffalo Sector can give back.
"Just to show we are a part of the community. We care about the community," Chief Payan said. He continued, "I've been doing this job for the last 33 years and this is the most charitable community I've been a part of."
Forty pounds of food coming from the Snowball Challenge will be donated to FeedMore Western New York. The Buffalo Sector will be buying the food to donate this week.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to have this donation come our way and we really are encouraged by it," Catherine Shick, Communications Director at FeedMore WNY, said.
FeedMore WNY serves upwards of 136,000 people. It distributes 14 million pounds of food annually -- more than a million every month. The organization said this donation couldn't come at a better time.
"Anytime it's not the holiday season, we're really struggling for these types of food drive donations to help us serve our families in need," Shick said.
Both FeedMore and the Buffalo Board Patrol Sector hope this challenge creates a snowball effect.
