Summer is a tough time for food pantries across the United States. With no summer comes no school, and for families experiencing financial hardship, that means a lack of access to free or reduced cost school breakfasts and lunches for their children. As a result, families may be even more likely to turn to a food bank for assistance during the summer months. With that in mind, we'd like to announce that Adoption STAR will be running a food drive on behalf of the Food Bank of Western New York and the L.I.F.E. Food Pantry during the entire month of June 2014! Please support the drive by bringing non-perishable food items to one of our buildings (131 John Muir Drive, Amherst, NY 14228 or 433 West Loveland Avenue, 1st Floor, Loveland, OH 45140) at any point between June 1st and June 30th. The Food Bank of Western New York has a particular need for the following items: canned meat, canned fish, canned soups, canned/dry beans, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned spaghetti or ravioli, spaghetti sauce, drink mixes, canned or powdered milk, juices (canned or in plastic bottles), tea, hot chocolate, coffee, canned fruits or vegetables, rice, pasta, and cereals (hot or cold). The L.I.F.E. Food Pantry has made the following suggestions for ideal items to donate: pudding packs (non-dairy), peanut butter, microwave macaroni and cheese, canned Spaghettios, ravioli, lasagna, breakfast bars, cereal (especially the single serving boxed packages), fruit cups in individual servings (applesauce, pears, peaches, mixed fruit), Pop Tarts (all flavors), non-refrigerated lunch packs (similar to Lunchables but shelf stable), soups and chilis, and snack cracker packs (cheese/peanut butter, cheese/tuna, cheese/chicken). If you have any questions regarding the food drive, please contact Adoption STAR Development Associate Kristin Leiby at 716-639-3900, or Adoption STAR Program Director Angela Laman at 513-631-3900 In the sprit of friendly competition, we?ll be keeping tabs on the amount of food donated in our New York office versus our Ohio office (and we?ll share the results once the food drive is over). We hope you?ll do your part as New Yorkers or Ohioans to ensure YOUR Adoption STAR office collects the most food! Learn more about the Food Bank of Western New York. Learn more about the L.I.F.E. Food Pantry. Thanks in advance for your support this month!