BUFFALO, NY — Due to food insecurity that was amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic ,the Western New York Foundation and the Southern Tier West Development Foundation launched the Regional Food System report that began in 2021 and officially was unveiled on Thursday.
“Somebody asked me, ‘Why now, why today? Why so long?’ All I had to say was 'yes why now why so long?' We eat we consume and we waste,” said Beth Gosch, Executive Director of WNY Foundation.
The 239 paged report broke down where connecting consumers to farmers and farmers to land can improve and begin the new initiative Food Future Western New York.
The new initiative will be focused on establishing a Food and Racial Equity Council, create a fund for People of color food suppliers, and farmers and plan ways to establish an easier food distribution system.
Through the 18-month assessment the organizers of the Food System report found three-fourths of farmers in need did not reach out for help financially due to complicated applications or too much collateral.
"Anybody's actions can contribute positively to the ripple effect of creating this food system. We are looking to build resilience, equity, and wealth generation," said Kimberly LaMendola the Project Manager of NYSOG.
The new initiative, organizers say will be completed in 10 to 20 years.
For now, food pantries are the boots on the ground serving rural communities that struggle to access fresh produce, like FeedMore WNY's Farm Market truck.
"Not a lot people can go to stores to get this kind of stuff so it is a great privelige to be out here for them to actually experience it for themselves, and even if its cold out here we will be freezing waiting for them to get here,” said Hennrii Riley, truck driver for FeedMore.
Complete list of food pantries in Western New York:
- FeedMore WNY
- West Seneca Community Food Pantry
- Network of Religious Communities
- St. Vincent Depaul Dining Room
- Joseph Project Mobile Pantry
- The Salvation Army - Temple Corps
- Coldspring Community Foundation
- Food Farmacy Food Pantry
- Friends of Night People
- Belle Center Food Pantry
- Primera Food Pantry
- Good Shepherd Food Pantry
- Family Help Center
- St. Luke Food Pantry
- S.B.C Foundation
- Resurrection Life Food Pantry
- New Beginnings Food Pantry
- St. Martha's Pantry
- Town Square Food Pantry
- West Seneca Food Pantry
- Blasdell Church of Christ Food Pantry
- North Tonawanda Inter-Church Food Pantry
- Tri-Community Food Pantry
- Tabernacle Food Pantry
- Trinity Pantry
- Evangel Food Pantry
- FUMC Free Community Dinner
- Divine Mercy Food Pantry
- Community Missions Inc. Pantry
- Southtowns Christian Food Pantry
- Operation Good Neighbor Food Pantry
- Heart, Love and Soul Food Pantry
- FISH of East Aurora
- NIACAP Lockport Pantry
- Care- N - Share Food Pantry
- Eden North Collins Food Pantry
- Newfane Community Food Pantry
- Wilson Community Pantry
- Silver Creek Food Pantry
- Southerntier Food Pantry
- The Trading Post Community Food Pantry
- Springville-Concord Community Food Pantry
- Gowanda Love, INC.
- Forestville Food Pantry
- Dayton Food Pantry
- Delevan Community Food Pantry
- Neighbor to Neighbor Food Pantry
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Food Closet
- South Dayton Food Pantry
- Cattaraugus Food Pantry
- Twice Fed Food Pantry
- Catholic Charities-Franklinville
- Cassadaga Food Pantry
- U.C. of E Community Food Pantry
- Little Valley Food Pantry
- Brocton-Portland Food Pantry
- Sinclairville Food Pantry
You can find the complete report here.
