Eileen Nowak and Assistant Rabi Adam Scheldt of Temple Beth Zion stand in the new food pantry, which will service Getzville and Williamsville residents. (Courtesy of Catholic Charities)

Catholic Charities and Temple Beth Zion have joined in a collaborative effort to open a new food pantry to serve Getzville and Williamsville residents.  Town Square Food Pantry is located at the Town Square for Aging on the Weinberg Campus, 2710 North Forest Road, Getzville. The site will serve eligible residents of ZIP codes 14068 and 14221.  

The food pantry will be open Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and close for lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.

"This is a chance for both Catholic Charities and Temple Beth Zion to bring additional services to an area that has been underserved and to help feed families with limited incomes," said Eileen Nowak, parish outreach and advocacy department director for Catholic Charities. "In addition to the food pantry, we also can connect residents with other services they may need, such as marriage counseling, mental health services or clothing."

Most of the initial funding was secured through donations to the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies, while Temple Beth Zion members contributed a large portion of food and will volunteer at the pantry. Catholic Charities oversaw the process of establishing the new pantry and is currently working to register its seventh pantry site as a member of the Food Bank of Western New York.
Rabbi Gary Pokras, Temple Beth Zion senior rabbi, talked about the significance of the partnership.

"I believe that God created us to build up creation together," said Rabbi Pokras. "Each time we help each other we bring a spark of the divine into our lives, but when people from different religious traditions work together, then anything is possible. That is why we at Temple Beth Zion feel blessed to partner with the wonderful folks at Catholic Charities to feed the hungry. The important work Catholic Charities does is truly holy, and we consider ourselves fortunate indeed to be part of this new collaboration."

Catholic Charities maintains six other pantry and outreach centers. Each has emergency food pantries and offers information and referrals. In 2014, the food pantries impacted 5,669 individuals. More than 2,000 individuals assisted were infants and children under the age of 18.

For more information call 716-218-1400, ext. 2004 or 2005.