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For Immediate Release:

Media Contact: Michael Puglia | 716.390.1393 | [email protected]

Buffalo City Mission Kick Starts Annual Fall Campaign

Fall Campaign aims to raise $2.1 million to provide critical programs and services to Western New York’s homeless community.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK (October 15, 2024) —

Today, the Buffalo City Mission announced the launch of its fall fundraising campaign, “One Mission, One Hope.” As a significant annual initiative, the campaign advances the Mission’s work in providing critical programs and services for people experiencing homelessness in Buffalo. This year, the Mission aims to raise $2.1M for the One Mission, One Hope campaign. Donations for the initiative can be made online.

“Each autumn, we are reminded of the remarkable generosity that defines our community and has earned Buffalo its name as the City of Good Neighbors,” said Aubrey Calhoun, CEO and Executive Director of the Buffalo City Mission. “Every donation, no matter how small, plays a vital role in helping us provide life-changing programs and services. Together, we can empower our neighbors to break the cycle of homelessness and build brighter futures.”

As part of this year’s Fall campaign, the Mission is calling on the community to help raise $2.1 million between October 15 and December 31, 2024—an essential target representing 23% percent of the organization’s annual operating budget. This critical campaign serves as a cornerstone for funding the Mission’s ongoing efforts to support the poor and homeless throughout the year. The funds raised will directly sustain the men’s and women’s ministries, allowing the Mission to continue offering vital services, including:

• Emergency Shelter
• Three Nutritious Meals a Day/Hot Showers
• Chaplaincy Support
• Strong Case Management and Community Referrals
• Medical & Behavioral Health Care
• First of its Kind: Recuperative Care Unit
• Housing Management
• Long-Term Recovery Programs: Transitional Housing
• Life Skill Training
• Education and Vocational Support

“Homelessness remains a serious and ever-growing issue in Western New York,” continued Calhoun. “With a 37% percent rise in homelessness—the largest single-year increase in Erie County in over a decade—the need for support has never been greater. Additionally, over 26 percent of Erie County residents live below the poverty line. Our fall campaign offers a vital opportunity to raise the funds needed to sustain the programs and services that make a difference in the lives of everyone who seeks our help.”

Last year, the City Mission served 152,512 meals and provided 76,657 safe nights of sleep at the shelter. As the region’s largest homeless shelter, the organization stands unwavering in its role as a center of hope, restoration, and support, working alongside the community to serve those in need.

To volunteer or learn how to help a neighbor find hope, please contact us at (716) 854-8181, ext. 419, or visit buffalocitymission.org to make a donation towards the Fall campaign.

About the Buffalo City Mission:

The Buffalo City Mission, founded in 1917, is a nonprofit organization providing preventative, emergency, and transitional housing programs to thousands of people who are homeless and impoverished every year. The Mission includes the new Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise and a Women and Children’s Shelter (Cornerstone Manor), along with the Dick Road thrift store to serve the Western New York community. For more information, please visit www.buffalocitymission.org or call (716) 854-8181.