FACTS
- In 2008 the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that approximately 10% of the upstate New York population cannot afford an adequate supply of food. That translates to over 60,000 families in Western New York.
- Buffalo is the 3rd poorest big city (population 65,000 or more) in the nation.
- Another report states that 40% of the children in Buffalo live below the poverty level.
- Food Shuttle of WNY transports food to the hungry, operating every day except New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
- Number of organizations that regularly donate food: 70
- Number of organizations that receive the food: 115
- Number of volunteers: 325
- Number of volunteers routinely active on a weekly basis: 200
- Time needed to do a Food Shuttle "run": approximately 2 hours
- Volunteer drivers use their own vehicle at their own expense
- Donations from individuals
- United Way Donor Choice Program
- Federal Employees Campaign
- State Employees Campaign
- General Payroll Deduction Campaign
- Community Grants
- Service Awards
Volunteers currently transport an average of over 28,000 pounds - that's 14 TONS - of food each week. The chart below shows the pounds of food transported annually since Food Shuttle's beginning in 1989.