To The Reader’s Forum:

If you can, and only if you don’t need the New York state 2023 “inflation” refund check of $150 to $400 distributed by New York state this year to taxpayers, consider donating it to local food pantries, or other worthwhile food distributing organizations.

We encourage you to do so willingly and regardless of the status of the federal government shutdown and/or “recission” of federal funding already appropriated for food aid programs (SNAP, USAID, etc.).

For example, Linda and I received $400 from New York state recently and we will donate it to one or more local food pantries. We have used all previous money from the federal government “stimulus” money, which we donated to several local and national food-related organizations. We felt we didn’t “need” the money, so it was a “no-brainer” not to give it to others in need.

You might consider which food pantries will use the money to buy the greatest quantities of the most used food items. They often buy in “bulk” which is cost-saving. They usually use volunteers so there is little to no “overhead” to pay. I’m sure you can think of other reasons! Food “pantries” are more advantageous than food “banks”!

You can use the “Chautauqua County Food Resource Guide” on the site “https://chautauquacountyny.gov”. That “guide” will help with questions that people should know to ask for or give assistance!

Paul L. Demler

Jamestown