WNY American Red Cross Receives $50,000 Emergency Storm Grant from M&T Bank

BUFFALO, N.Y.–The American Red Cross serving Western and Central New York is receiving a $50,000 grant from M&T Bank to help fund additional emergency expenses caused by the severe snow storm which impacted many local communities.
 
The storm left many Western New York residents, including M&T employees and customers, in urgent need of assistance.
 
Since the storm began on Tuesday, November 18, the Red Cross has: 

  • Operated or supported 19 shelters
  • Served more than 2,850 meals and snacks
  • Distributed 251 comfort kits
  • Trained Disaster Mental Health volunteers have made hundreds of contacts to help people deal with the emotional response to this disaster
  • Four Emergency Response Vehicles taking food, water and additional support directly into some of the hardest hit areas, and is planning to distribute clean-up kits and other materials in the next several days to help people recover from the storm.

“When a storm of this magnitude hits your headquarters city, you see and feel first-hand how it changes people’s lives and how important the emergency assistance of an organization like the Red Cross can be in helping people recover. The Red Cross will use this funding to help our employees, customers and neighbors,” said Shelley C. Drake, president of the M&T Charitable Foundation. 

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About M&T Bank
M&T Bank, founded in Buffalo in 1856, serves customers at more than 700 branch offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Read more about M&T Bank online at www.mtb.com.
 

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Media contact:

Chet Bridger

(716) 842-5182

cbridger@mtb.com