Amherst 2nd Grader Has Food Drive Instead Of Birthday Party

An Amherst second grader is forgoing his birthday celebration to give back to others. Instead of a party, Nicholas Henry a student at Smallwood Elementary School asked his parents to help set up a food drive for his 8th birthday.

According to NEWS 4 (WIVB-TV) donations raised are going to help FeedMore WNY.

Nicholas set a goal of collecting 250 pounds of food...he commented:

“My mom is the reason why I’m doing this. Because she’s a social worker and I like helping people like she does,” said Nicholas.

Nicolas’ father Colin Henry said...

“It’s great to see both Nicholas, as well as his brother Mason whos here with me. Through what they’ve been learning here at home and through their Cub Scout pack and at the small wood drive school that they go to, you know, being an active member of the community , something important as they learn and grow here in the Western New York area,” added Nicolas’ father Colin Henry.

In addition to the food, Nicholas raised more than $150 for FeedMore WNY.

FeedMore WNY was born from the healthy merger of two of the area’s most well-known, well-respected organizations—the Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels for Western New York. For many years, the two groups worked alongside each other with the common goal of ending hunger in the Western New York community.

The mission of FeedMore WNY is "to offer dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to neighbors in need" throughout the Western New York area.

In 2020 alone, their feeding programs served more than 16 million meals to homebound neighbors as well as through nearly 300 pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other hunger-relief agencies in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

Townsquare Media Buffalo has done informational programs that air on our Buffalo stations in support of Feedmore WNY.

Here is one of those Issues and Views Programs hosted by Townsquare's Joe Chille with Catherine Shick, Communications Director of FeedMore WNY: