Dina’s Restaurant of Ellicottville has been delivering freshly prepared meals to The Salvation Army’s food pantry weekly and will do so through the end of March. Submitted photo

Prepared meals from Dina’s Restaurant in Ellicottville have recently been on the menu at the Salvation Army in Jamestown.

Due to the New York State Resiliency Program, Dina’s Restaurant has been delivering freshly prepared meals to the Salvation Army’s food pantry. Elizabeth Margarito, emergency basic needs supervisor, said the meals have been incredibly important to the clients the food pantry serves.

“(Dina’s) is utilizing what is called the restaurant resiliency grant,” Margarito said. “Restaurants were struggling … when COVID happened, so this money basically helps them keep people employed and keep up the operations while they were dealing with a difficult time. What happens is they bring meals they have prepared and/or frozen to different food banks. They deliver once a week, and then we’re able to use that food and give it out to clients.”

The program will span nine weeks and ends at the end of March. Margarito said the program has allowed the food pantry to provide meals for those who might not have access to a stove or have difficulty preparing other food.

“We give at least three days’ worth of food for everybody who comes in,” she said. “This is actually very helpful for those who happen to be in a situation where maybe their stove is broken or … they have limited resources. It really helps those individuals be able to have a meal when they’re struggling with that. If you don’t have a stove, how are you cooking the food I’ve given you? You’re kind of limited to peanut butter and jelly or pop-top soup and things like that.”

The need in the community for help with food and other resources has fluctuated considerably throughout the pandemic, Margarito said.

“It’s kind of been like a roller coaster,” she said. “At first we were slammed because everybody was applying for unemployment and no one was able to get through. Then it kind of evened out and our numbers were a little bit lower as aid started funneling through — we’re talking stimulus, extra food stamps that people were receiving and that kind of helped. So we weren’t seeing as many people. We’ll get that summer rush or when kids are on break. Our numbers are kind of like a roller coaster.”

Margarito said the pantry receives donations from Wegmans and other businesses and organizations, but meals from Dina’s Restaurant are a new experience.

“These meals are made specifically for this program, so it’s different in that aspect,” she said.

Margarito said the agency always accepts donations and would be willing to work with other restaurants interested in a similar program. However, the food pantry is unable to disburse prepared food unless it is prepackaged. The agency is not a designated soup kitchen.

Currently, the pantry is in need of toiletry and cleaning products, such as paper towels, laundry soap and other personal care and household items.

“People that receive food stamp benefits, they can’t buy shampoo, soap, deodorant and toothpaste,” she said. “They cannot buy that stuff with their EBT cards. That’s the stuff that people are always looking for.”

At this time, the pantry does not need toilet paper as it received quite a lot a year ago. “We’re still working on getting through that,” Margarito said.

Margarito said the pantry is extraordinarily thankful to Dina’s Restaurant for its help and the meals they are providing to those in need.

“The feedback from clients has been great regarding the quality and taste of these meals, they look forward to them weekly,” she said.

For those experiencing food insecurity, Margarito said they can visit the Salvation Army with a photo ID or call ahead of time and a member of staff will walk the individual through the process. The Salvation Army is located at 83 S. Main St. in Jamestown. For more information, call 716-664-4108 and ask for Crystal or Elizabeth.