Emergency Family Assistance

Director: Lisa Holmes
Phone: (716) 888-6261
Email: Lisa.Holmes@use.salvationarmy.org

Hours of Operation:

Food Pantry: Monday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  |  Wednesday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  |  Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Office Hours:  Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Program Highlights:

The Emergency Family Assistance Program (EFA) serves as a central intake for thousands of clients annually. Providing tangible assistance (food, clothing, etc.) to those with documented needs. EFA administers several other initiatives, including Christmas Assistance, a Residential Camp Program at Seneca Lake, and the Neighbor for Neighbor Heat Fund. 

• EFA is a basic needs program whose primary focus is the provision of food to hungry individuals and families. For example, a family of 4 can receive food for 36 meals. 3 meals each for 3 days, once per month. 
• Mobile Food Pantry, in collaboration with FeedMore of Western New York, brings fresh and healthy foods on-site to The Salvation Army location at 970 Main Street on the first Tuesday of every month at 2:00 PM. The mobile pantry is free, but each participant must show proper ID, including name, age, and zip code.
• FeedMore of WNY Farm Market is available to customers to purchase low-cost fruits and vegetables, every Wednesday from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm.  The location is the front parking lot of 960 Main Street.
• Services are free to all customers and may be in the form of vouchers issued to purchase clothing, household items and specific personal care items from our Salvation Army Family Stores. Our program also refers customers to additional and appropriate agencies and/or advocacy services.
• Customers needing assistance may contact the Director to schedule an appointment for an interview and needs assessment on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. 
• The Christmas Assistance Program is provided free of charge to all eligible customers. When health and safety permits, parents choose gifts for each child between birth and 12 years of age. If qualified, the family will receive holiday food assistance, and books will be donated through Project Flight for all children to enjoy.  Families with exceptional needs are referred to our Sponsored Family Program.
• The Residential Camp Program gives up to 53 children the opportunity to attend a weeklong camping adventure at Camp Long Point on the shores of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.
• The Neighbor for Neighbor Heat Fund is for those customers 55 years or older, those receiving unemployment benefits, veterans, and/or individuals with documented disabilities struggling to pay their heating bills.
• Home Energy Assistance Program Outreach is a day set aside for assisting customers with applying for funds from the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program. Please see the flyer on our H.E.A.P. Outreach page in our Menu.

How we help partner with adults

We at The Salvation Army Buffalo Area Services partner with Adults in our community in a number of ways, from food and clothing through our Emergency Family Assistance department, helping adults gain skills through our Employment Services, learning healthy alternatives to violence in our Conflict Resolution Workshop, to helping families break the cycle of poverty with our Pathway of Hope program. 

Emergency Family Assistance
Emergency Family Assistance is a basic needs program whose primary focus is the provision of food to hungry individuals and families. Open Monday from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  |  Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  |  Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Neighbor 4 Neighbor Heat Fund
This home-heating assistance grant program is available on a first-come, first-served basis and provides low-income Western New Yorkers with help to prevent disconnection of their service, pay current or past-due energy bills (excluding electric utilities), or purchase home heating fuel of any kind. Qualifying individuals or families may receive a one-time grant of up to $400 per program year.