Wegmans, Buffalo Bills host allergen-friendly food drive. What to know

Emily Barnes, New York State Team

Local food pantries will soon be able to stock their shelves with an influx of food allergy-friendly items for families who need them.

Wegmans is teaming up with the Buffalo Bills to collect allergen-friendly and special diet food items to support food-insecure families with food allergies and special diet needs.

“From a mother's perspective, I can tell you that it affects our family and many others a great deal. There were difficult lessons learned over the years and as parents, there is rarely a time you’re not thinking about this,” says Jamie McDermott, wife of Bills Head Coach, Sean McDermott, and food allergy advocate.

“We are so very grateful for Wegmans and this partnership. It means a lot to us because we know we are not the only family that is affected by food allergies, and if we can help just one family by making it easier for them to access safe foods for their families, it will be worth it.”

Here's what to know about the allergen-friendly food drive.

When, where allergen-friendly food drive taking place

Now through Saturday, May 18, customers at Wegmans stores located in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and the Southern Tier can buy select allergen-friendly and special diet food items to donate to each store's local food bank and their member agencies.

You can drop the items off in donation bins located at the front of each store.

Which food banks are benefiting?

In Rochester, Foodlink will be receiving the allergen-friendly donations.

Throughout the state, FeedMore WNY in Buffalo, Food Bank of Central New York in Syracuse and Food Bank of the Southern Tier in the Southern Tier will get the donations.

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Which items can I donate?

A list of Wegmans-branded and other allergen-friendly items eligible for the food drive, include:

  • Wegmans Organic Creamy Sunflower Butter

  • Wegmans Organic Gluten Free Chickpea Rotini Pasta

  • Wegmans Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour

  • Wegmans Organic Milled Flax & Chia Seeds Blend

  • Wegmans Organic Tomato Soup

  • Wegmans Steamables Whole Grain Brown Rice, Quinoa & Lentils

  • Daiya Mac & Cheeze, Dairy Free, Cheddar, Deluxe

  • Partake Cookies, Chocolate Chip, Crunchy

  • Wegmans Gluten Free Ancient Grains Brown Rice Crackers with Sea Salt

  • Wegmans Organic Milled Flax Seeds

  • Wegmans Steamables Basmati & Wild Rice

  • Wegmans Organic Steamables Lentils

  • Wegmans Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie Mix

  • Wegmans Organic Gluten Free Coconut Flour

  • Wegmans Gluten Free Golden Cake Mix

  • Wegmans Gluten Free Cookie Mix

  • Wegmans Red Quinoa

  • Canyon Bakehouse Bread, Gluten Free, Country White, 100% Whole Grain

  • King Arthur Baking Company Bread & Pizza Mix, Gluten Free

  • Oatly Oat Milk, 100% Vegan

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at ebarnes@gannett.com or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Wegmans, Buffalo Bills host allergen-friendly food drive. What to know

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