Our mission

   Provide emergency assistance, primarily food or financial help (utility bills), for Grand Island residents who find themselves in temporary need. Since 1973, this has been accomplished through a strictly volunteer organization, using churches and other organizations to collect and stock an immediate needs food pantry, and raising money through community wide fund drives (Share Your Happiness at the Holiday Season) and special donation arrangements for employees of key Island employers.

 Getting Assistance

   Any Grand Island individual or family in temporary need may apply. Information in regard to someone in need is often supplied by neighbors (that’s our name!), churches or schools. Families are welcome to apply directly. We recommend calling the phone number of one of our contact volunteers. As of summer of 2012, numbers to call are 773-1452 or 773-4684. We list those numbers in the Grand Island Pennysaver, or the GI Chamber of Commerce phone book, and they change from time to time, as our volunteers change assignments. It is presumed that need is usually of an emergency nature, so postal or Email requests are not advisable.

Since the Foundation is funded through the generosity and goodwill of the people of Grand Island, assistance is limited to Grand Island residents.

Neighbors Foundation prepares for Holiday Season in midst of tough times

      The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island wants the community to know that we are prepared for the current tough economic times, but hope that all will rally to help their neighbors. Most should know that the Foundation is an all-volunteer organization that has been ready for 39 years to help Grand Islanders in temporary need with food and financial aid (primarily utility bills).

    The Foundation has preserved its funds carefully, suspecting that hard times were possible. Now, with a greater call for emergency food aid, yet lower donations, we have purchased quantities of those staples most useful for families in emergency need (pasta, spaghetti sauce, ‘hamburger helper’, toiletries). Our pantry is thus well enough stocked for the immediate future. We have been blessed with recent donations from organizations such as K of C and East Park Garden Club, (plus several individuals) to keep our treasury sound, as needs arise for families in financial crisis with utility bills.

   As the Holiday Season approaches, youth in our schools will be asked to donate non-perishable foods and toiletries for our Holiday distribution. We hope families will be generous with that donation – the need is great. The community at large is encouraged to donate to our ‘Share Your Happiness’ fund drive, sending any donations to P.O. Box 155, Grand Island NY 14072.

    We believe that this community, by thinking of their neighbors even as they themselves face tougher times, can really be a grand island to live in. The Neighbors Foundation, with community help, will make it so.

Henry G. Kammerer

President, Neighbors Foundation