1 million pounds strong: Erie County Fair-goers help reach major milestone for FeedMore WNY

Erie County Fair press release

The Erie County Fair is proud to announce that fairgoers donated 160,905 pounds of food during the opening-day food drive on Aug. 12, benefiting FeedMore WNY and helping the longtime partnership achieve a remarkable milestone. 

With this year's collection, the Erie County Fair and FeedMore WNY have now collected a cumulative 1,036,861 pounds of food since the opening-day food drive partnership began in 2013, surpassing the 1-million-pound mark and providing critical support to Western New Yorkers facing food insecurity. 

Fairgoers received free admission to the Erie County Fair in exchange for donating four or more canned goods at the gate on opening day. This year’s collection of 160,905 pounds represents the second-highest total in the history of the opening-day food drive and pushed the longstanding partnership between the Erie County Fair and FeedMore WNY beyond the remarkable milestone of 1 million pounds donated. 

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate this 1-million-pound milestone with FeedMore WNY," said Jessica Underberg, Erie County Fair CEO and fair manager. "For more than a decade, fairgoers have embraced the opening-day food drive as a way to help neighbors in need. Collecting more than 1 million pounds of food is a testament to the compassion and generosity that define our community." 

Tara A. Ellis, president and CEO of FeedMore WNY, said, “FeedMore WNY is excited and extremely moved by the incredible results of this year’s Erie County Fair opening-day food drive. Once again, Erie County Fair-goers stepped up to support their food-insecure community members by generously filling 265 large totes full of food donations, which is six more totes than the previous year. What makes this amazing food drive even more special is that we were able to exceed a phenomenal milestone of more than 1 million pounds of food donated since this food drive began. FeedMore WNY is deeply grateful for the continued partnership of the Erie County Fair and the Erie County Agricultural Society. We want to thank everyone who donated and volunteered to make this critical drive for FeedMore WNY and our nearly 400 hunger-relief partner agencies so successful.” 

The Erie County Fair opening-day food drive is supported by WGRZ-TV Channel 2, Five Star Bank, and NYCM Insurance. 

Historical data on Erie County Fair opening-day food drive:

More about the Erie County Fair: The Erie County Fair is produced by the Erie County Agricultural Society, a private, not-for-profit membership organization established in 1819. It is recognized as the oldest civic institution in Western New York. The society’s mission is to connect communities through agriculture, education and entertainment. 

The Erie County Fair is an annual 12-day event held in Hamburg that celebrates the region’s agricultural roots while offering engaging educational experiences and family-friendly entertainment. Learn more at www.ECFair.org. 

More about FeedMore WNY: FeedMore WNY offers dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to its Western New York neighbors in need. Through its food bank distribution center and partner hunger-relief agencies, as well as its home-delivered meal program, other targeted feeding programs and RISE workforce development training, FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. More information can be found at www.FeedMoreWNY.org.