Watson’s Chocolates is proud to partner with FeedMore WNY for the Fifth Annual National Sponge Candy Day, Monday, September 21,2020. Watson’s will donate two dollars to FeedMore WNY for every one-pound box purchased from Friday, September 18th through Monday, September 21st at their eight WNY retail stores (www.WatonsChocolates.com/locations).

FeedMore WNY offers dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to its Western New York neighbors in need. Through its food bank distribution center and partner hunger-relief agencies, as well as its home-delivered meal program and other targeted feeding programs, FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties.

“FeedMore WNY is committed to providing nutritious food to our hungry neighbors of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances. We could not continue our mission without the help of the community. We are grateful to our friends at Watson’s Chocolates for this wonderful (and delicious) opportunity to support Western New Yorkers in need,” Lisa Woodring, chief development officer for FeedMore WNY, said.

Whitney Watson Beecher, 3^rd generation owner of Watson’s Candies Inc. is excited to support FeedMore WNY this year. “Sponge Candy brings joy to so many people in WNY and we wanted that feeling to extend even further by supporting a great local organization that helps so many individuals and families in need.  With even more of our neighbors struggling due to the pandemic, donating to FeedMore WNY seemed like the perfect way to spread a few more smiles through the sale of our Sponge Candy,” said Beecher.

More on FeedMore WNY:

• More than 79,500 children in FeedMore WNY’s service area may struggle with hunger in 2020 because of the COVID-19 health crisis. 

• One in six Western New Yorkers may be at risk of hunger in 2020 and beyond due to the pandemic. 

• FeedMore WNY partners with 300 hunger-relief agencies throughout Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties to help feed our neighbors in need. 

• FeedMore WNY offers youth-related programs to support kids and their families in Western New York that are in need of both healthy and accessible meals. FeedMore WNY’s BackPack Program, designated baby needs pantries and high school and college food pantries provide nutritious food and support to those who need assistance. 

• FeedMore WNY’s home-delivered meal program (also known as Meals on Wheels) provides nearly 1 million meals to older adults and homebound community members each year, helping them maintain a high level of independence. 

• Before the pandemic, as many as 135,000 individuals in any given month relied on FeedMore WNY’s services. Since March, thousands more people have been reaching out for food assistance due to the COVID-19 health crisis. 

• FeedMore WNY has distributed more than 8.5 million pounds of food through its warehouse since March 16 – a nearly 50% increase compared to what we distributed during the same time period last year. 

• Since March, FeedMore WNY has added more than 2,200 individuals to its home-delivered meal program (also known as Meals on Wheels). At peak points in its pandemic response, FeedMore WNY was delivering nearly 32,000 home-delivered meals each week (a nearly 57% increase compared to our normal weekly deliveries). 

• FeedMore WNY distributed more than 53,000 emergency food kits to people in need since mid-March. FeedMore WNY also has distributed nearly 56,500 bags of nutritious food through our BackPack Program to children in need. 

• FeedMore WNY is still in great need of food and fund donations, as well as volunteers, to continue our pandemic response. People who are looking to give back can call FeedMore WNY at (716) 822-2002 or at (716) 852-1305 or visit feedmorewny.org for more information. 

• Anyone who is in need of food assistance can contact FeedMore WNY at (716) 822-2002 or at (716) 852-1305 or visit feedmorewny.org for more information.