Looking for more ways to volunteer in your community?

Western NY Heroes

Seeks to ease transition between combat and civilian lives

Contact: 630-5020

Website: wnyheroes.org

Pride Center of WNY

Supports the LGBTQIA+ community, including youth

Contact: 852-7743

Website: pridecenterwny.org

Compass House

Provides safe shelter to at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth

Contact: 886-1351 ext. 114

Website: compasshouse.org

Buffalo City Mission

Fights homelessness, poverty, and hunger

Contact: 854-8181

Website: buffalocitymission.org

Volunteer Transport Network

Needs administration and drivers to coordinate rides between VA appointments

Contact: Cynthia 862-8671

Website: visn2.va.gov

Do you or a loved one need help locating resources? Available 24/7, dial 2-1-1.

Today, the larger organization that grew from those simple beginnings can be found at 394 Hudson Street. From this location, FONP offers everything from showers, lockers, clothing, and hot meals to acute medical care. FONP staffs a team of case workers able to help with short-term assistance, financing and/or obtaining identification information, or finding housing.

“We wait for people to identify what their needs are. We try to be kind, compassionate, welcoming, [and] make them feel comfortable,” says Heary. “Some individuals are dealing with shortterm setbacks, maybe an extra utility bill, their vehicle broke down, they’re recently homeless or released from prison, and they just need short-term assistance. Other people may spend a month getting comfortable before they open up, before they’ll let us know what they need, and then we’ll try to connect the dots.” Knowledge of FONP services typically spread through word of mouth, but also through partner organizations, which FONP is always seeking to assist with its goals.

“Being an organization that’s open 365 days a year, we need volunteers each and every day,” says Heary. “We serve breakfast Monday through Friday nine a.m. to eleven a.m., [and] dinner from five to seven p.m.,” says Heary. “We can serve anywhere from 100-150 people, and [for] volunteers, we try to have at least six for breakfast, and ten for dinner service.”

Staff members from the outreach team and culinary department are present during meals and “are committed to ensure that dignity, compassion, and safety of volunteers and guests are always maintained,” Heary explains.

Some volunteers have been with FONP for forty years. If you’d like to join them, Heary encourages groups to coordinate volunteering through their relationship manager, and individuals can sign up on the FONP website. “There’s online orientation, and a place to pick a volunteer shift,” Heary says. “[Booking is] usually one to three months in advance.” Volunteers are asked to wear comfortable clothes.

FONP also welcomes all donations, including hygiene products, blankets, clothing, childcare necessities, monetary, and beyond. They are unable to accept household items, children’s toys, or medical equipment. “People can arrive seven days a week, between ten a.m. and seven p.m. to our side door at Wadsworth, and we accept the donations right here at our building,” says Heary. “Everything is given away free.”

FONP also has a volunteerbased clinic that opened in 1994. “[The clinic is] partnered with the School of Medicine, from the University at Buffalo,” Heary explains. “They’re first and second year med students, and a local attending physician helps with acute illnesses.”

As FONP expands its reach through the city and surrounding communities, Heary says its message is this: “First and foremost, we’re grateful for the generosity of the people in Buffalo and WNY who support our mission to help care for others in need.” FY

Ashley Ziomek is a freelance writer living in WNY.