Feedmore Western New York is on track to serve almost 15.5 million meals this year to neighbors in need. That is almost 3 million more meals than last year.

One of the biggest reasons why — the pandemic.

The group wouldn’t be able to deliver and package meals without the help of its volunteers.

Each week, Michelle Barczak and Paula Lawson meet at the Feedmore WNY hub in Lockport to pick up meals they’ll deliver to seniors in the area. 

“I’m just checking to make sure that we have all of the meals we are supposed to have. The right number and the right people,” Lawson said.

They usually deliver to the same seven clients every week, and they make a pretty good team.

“I usually drive and then we both get out and get the food and she goes up to the door as I prepared the food for the next spot,” Barczak said.

The two got involved with Feedmore WNY a year ago. Both veterans, they say their call to service extended past their time in the military and into their now retired lives. Lawson says she gave monetarily at first, but wanted to be more involved so now she delivers meals and works in their warehouse. 

“[It's] something that I just always aspired to do, to give back to people less fortunate than me and incapable of being able to do for themselves,” she said.

“I’ve had relatives over the years who have benefitted from it, and I know how important it was and how difficult it was for some of them,” Barczak added.

It’s volunteers like Paula and Michelle that Feedmore WNY Communication Director Catherine Shick says keeps the organization and their mission going.

“We know there are thousands of more individuals struggling with hunger because of COVID-19, and we need the help of the community to make sure no one goes hungry,” Shick said.

So every week, they go from door to door, delivering not just meals, but conversation and a friendly hello, as sometimes the volunteers are the only people seniors will see that day.

“For them to tell you what they’ve done that day or what they are going to do, yes it does keep you coming back,” Lawson said.

They’ve got a big job, and Feedmore WNY is in critical need of more volunteers just like them. The nonprofit added 2,200 clients to their home delivery routes across Western New York during this pandemic. As that need continues, Paula and Michelle will answer the call.

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