Kimberly Wilson, founder of Hope & Joy Food Pantry, joins 716 Together to share how her organization is redefining food pantry services in Western New York. Serving hundreds of families each month, Hope & Joy emphasizes dignity, accessibility, and client choice through online ordering, weekly pickup options, and delivery-friendly service for seniors and people with disabilities. Kimberly also highlights the pantry’s thriving community garden, which produces thousands of pounds of organic heirloom vegetables, and discusses upcoming inclusive fundraisers designed to bring the community together while supporting food security.

Kimberly Wilson, founder of Hope &amp; Joy Food Pantry, joins 716 Together to share how her organization is redefining food pantry services in Western New York. Serving hundreds of families each month, Hope &amp; Joy emphasizes dignity, accessibility, and client choice through online ordering, weekly pickup options, and delivery-friendly service for seniors and people with disabilities. Kimberly also highlights the pantry&rsquo;s thriving community garden, which produces thousands of pounds of organic heirloom vegetables, and discusses upcoming inclusive fundraisers designed to bring the community together while supporting food security.

716 Together is a weekly audio town hall designed to inform, inspire and empower our community on the social, economic and health issues that affect Buffalo and Western New York. Hosted by personalities from 103.3 The Edge, Classic Hits 104.1 and 97 Rock, join us for new episodes every week featuring engaging conversation with a wide scope of local leaders addressing the most relevant topic of the day.

 

716 Together is a weekly audio town hall designed to inform, inspire and empower our community on the social, economic and health issues that affect Buffalo and Western New York. Hosted by personalities from 103.3 The Edge, Classic Hits 104.1 and 97 Rock, join us for new episodes every week featuring engaging conversation with a wide scope of local leaders addressing the most relevant topic of the day.
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716 Together

716 Together: Inside Buffalo’s Hope & Joy Food Pantry (5-10-26)

In this episode of 716 Together, host Tammie Lee Demler speaks with Jodie Altman, Executive Director of Kids Escaping Drugs, about the organization’s hands-on approach to addressing youth substance use in Western New York. Altman explains how their team delivers real-time, school-based education tailored to current drug trends, while also offering early intervention services, workplace presentations, and family support resources. The conversation highlights the importance of meeting young people where they are, addressing mental health challenges, and using harm-reduction strategies like Narcan and fentanyl test strips to save lives. Through community partnerships and grassroots support, Kids Escaping Drugs works to empower both youth and adults with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate today’s evolving drug landscape.

In this episode of 716 Together, host Tammie Lee Demler speaks with Jodie Altman, Executive Director of Kids Escaping Drugs, about the organization&rsquo;s hands-on approach to addressing youth substance use in Western New York. Altman explains how their team delivers real-time, school-based education tailored to current drug trends, while also offering early intervention services, workplace presentations, and family support resources. The conversation highlights the importance of meeting young people where they are, addressing mental health challenges, and using harm-reduction strategies like Narcan and fentanyl test strips to save lives. Through community partnerships and grassroots support, Kids Escaping Drugs works to empower both youth and adults with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate today&rsquo;s evolving drug landscape.

716 Together: Kids Escaping Drugs (6-21-26)

In this episode of 716 Together, host Tammie Lee Demler speaks with astronomy expert Tim Collins about recent celestial activity, including a rare Venus–Jupiter conjunction, increased meteor sightings, and the aurora borealis displays seen over Western New York. Collins reassures listeners that these events are natural and not dangerous, explaining that improved technology—like doorbell cameras—simply makes them more visible than in the past. The conversation also explores broader topics such as how vast cosmic distances shape our understanding of the universe, the challenges of detecting extraterrestrial life, and the growing public interest in astronomy, while highlighting accessible ways for local residents to get involved through observatories, planetariums, and community astronomy groups.

In this episode of 716 Together, host Tammie Lee Demler speaks with astronomy expert Tim Collins about recent celestial activity, including a rare Venus&ndash;Jupiter conjunction, increased meteor sightings, and the aurora borealis displays seen over Western New York. Collins reassures listeners that these events are natural and not dangerous, explaining that improved technology&mdash;like doorbell cameras&mdash;simply makes them more visible than in the past. The conversation also explores broader topics such as how vast cosmic distances shape our understanding of the universe, the challenges of detecting extraterrestrial life, and the growing public interest in astronomy, while highlighting accessible ways for local residents to get involved through observatories, planetariums, and community astronomy groups.

716 Together: Exploring Meteors, Auroras, and the Search Beyond Earth (6-14-26)

Tammie Lee Demler welcomes author and community organizer Rick Falkowski to discuss upcoming summer events in Western New York, particularly the popular Gateway concert series, food truck events, and family-friendly programming designed to bring the community together. Rick also highlights his work as a publisher and author, including his mission to make book publishing more accessible and to promote local writers through new initiatives like the Western New York Writers Alliance. The conversation celebrates Buffalo’s cultural vibrancy, from live music and festivals to historical preservation, as Rick shares his passion for documenting regional history and creating engaging opportunities for residents to connect with their community.

Tammie Lee Demler welcomes author and community organizer Rick Falkowski to discuss upcoming summer events in Western New York, particularly the popular Gateway concert series, food truck events, and family-friendly programming designed to bring the community together. Rick also highlights his work as a publisher and author, including his mission to make book publishing more accessible and to promote local writers through new initiatives like the Western New York Writers Alliance. The conversation celebrates Buffalo&rsquo;s cultural vibrancy, from live music and festivals to historical preservation, as Rick shares his passion for documenting regional history and creating engaging opportunities for residents to connect with their community.

716 Together: Inside Buffalo’s Hope & Joy Food Pantry (5-10-26)

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