On the first visit to the Center, each client meets with a formally trained intake volunteer to assess their individual and/or family needs. This assures that emergency needs are met immediately and secondary needs provided for. Assistance takes many forms and can be individualized to specific needs. We take time to learn about our clients, develop a plan of action for them, and provide direct service and/or referral to services that are most appropriate for them. Our on site assistance currently consists of a food pantry, infant formula program, soup kitchen, thrift shop and personal care program, all of which are located on the first floor. Additional services include GED, computer training and health and wellness programs which are located on the second floor.   Our food pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and provides monthly food allocations. We purchase food from the Western New York Food Bank and also accept donations from our parishioners and community members. During the fiscal year ending August 2005, we provided food for 3717 men, women, children and infants. The pantry is staffed by volunteers and supervised by Felician sisters. Meal Services Daily, our dining room serves a hot and nutritious meal to the community. During that same fiscal year we served 15,379 meals to date. Again, food is either purchased through the Western New York Food Bank or donated. Hot meals are prepared by volunteers under the supervision of our Dining Program Director and served by volunteers from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon. 716-894-7030 InTake & Partnerships Under the leadership of Br. Dan of the Franciscan Fathers, our intake process includes one-on-one meetings with clients to assess their individual needs. Besides providing assistance from the food pantry, intake offers referrals to any one of our 45 partnerships with other community organizations. Our intake workers attended special training through the Erie County Department of Social Services to better help guide clients through the maze of services available to them. For more information about this service: 716-894-7030 x106 "Sisters School" Offers; GED Program We recently added a daily GED program and Computer classes for the community. Through a partnership with Erie County and the Buffalo Public Schools, (Upskill.org) an on-site instructor and case worker help individuals to obtain their dreams of being self-sufficient by improving their skills. Our GED and computer training programs finished the first year of operation in August 2005. In January 2006, a second GED class was added making a total enrolment of 45 students participating on a daily basis. Two of the classrooms are each equipped with 15 computers for student participation. Since the inception of the GED program, a number of students have received their diplomas, and two have commenced studies at Erie Community College. For more information about this service: Contact Vanessa at 894-7030 x106 Computer Training To truly be able to have the skills necessary to enter and be successful in the workplace, "Sisters School" offers comprehensive computer training. By emphasizing the latest technology and techniques, the students are armed with the tools needed to succeed!   Thrift Shop & Personal Care The thrift shop provides like-new men’s, women’s, children’s and infant’s clothing, house wares and furniture.   The merchandise is donated by the community, cleaned and repaired as needed and priced moderately, allowing our clients to gain pride in the ability to shop our various “departments” for what they need. The revenue generated from the thrift shop, currently $8,400.00, is applied to other programs that we provide. The thrift shop is open three days a week Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday 9:00am until 11:30am and is run by volunteers and supervised by Felician sisters. Through our personal care program, we distribute the basic necessities to those who are in need. Two hundred forty two men, women and children have been assisted so far this year, several of whom have been victims of local fires. Approximately eighty percent of the assistance given is clothing, with the remainder being personal hygiene items and infant formula. For more information about this service: 894-7030 x107 NEW! The latest addition to the services we provide is a collaborative effort with Erie County Social Services and the Matt Urban Center. As a worksite center, men and women who receive public assistance report here for community service assignments or enrollment in the GED program. Because of this collaborative effort, Response to Love Center is one of only four SNAP sites in Buffalo providing these services, and is the program model for the other three sites.     © Copyright 2005 www.ResponseToLove.org Contact the Webmaster Here