HAMBURG, N.Y. — Nearly 300 volunteers in Hamburg used their day off from school or work to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service to the community.
The sixth annual Hamburg Food Drive on Martin Luther King Day benefits the Food Bank of Western New York. The volunteers, including 100 Hamburg High School students, went door-to-door gathering canned goods and other non-perishable items.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. partnered with the Village of Hamburg Parks & Recreational Department, Hamburg High School Academy of Finance, Food Bank of WNY, Inc. and Tops Friendly Markets. The grocery store chain also accepted donations at its Town of Hamburg locations.
In the first five years of the drive, volunteers collected 27,000 pounds of food for hungry people in the area.
“People remember to give during the holiday season, but unfortunately even though the holidays are over, the need is not. We say hunger is 365 days a year, so this drive is especially important,” said Catherine Shick, Food Bank of WNY public and community relations manager.
The food drive picked up 13,000 of food last year, and organizers hope to surpass that mark this year.