A local agency is seeing a rise in the need for food assistance by current and former military service members. Out of the 165,000 people the Food Bank of Western New York assists in a given year, 27 percent are veterans.
The Food Bank’s Public and Community Relations Director, Mike Billoni, says it’s a sad commentary that these men and women made a commitment to the country and come back to find themselves in challenging situations…
“They have, for a number of reasons, can’t find proper employment, and now they find themselves in a financial situation where they need assistance with housing, they need assistance with food,” said Billoni.
Billoni says the good thing about Western New York is that there are a number of agencies that that help aid veterans. He says Veterans Day is a time in which those who are fortunate can reach out and serve a veteran in need.
Billoni cites organizations like the Veterans One-Stop Center of Western New York, and says those who donate to the Food Bank can know that it will reach a veteran’s family.
