Junie Eimiller, the president and founder of B.E. Strong 716, presented a $1,000 check Wednesday to Molly Cummings, a team leader with the Conduit Ministries Food Truck Outreach program, 120 Delaware Ave. to support the church’s outreach efforts.

“This is so generous,” said Cummings, “We can make this donation stretch for a long time.”

As previously reported in a July 25, Post-Journal article, the growing number of meals served by the Conduit food truck each week are indicative of a community-wide, growing problem and need.

“It’s very apparent, based on the growing numbers of those who come and get a meal every Sunday, that people need help. The Conduit-In-A-Box truck is also serving meals on Wednesday evenings too, at various parks around the city,” said Cameron Lienhart, Conduit senior pastor. “Last year we gave out 1,250 turkeys and Thanksgiving meals and we ran out of supplies within an hour. This year we’re trying to up that number to 1,500 to try and meet the need.”

From left, Junie Eimiller, the president and founder of B.E. Strong 716 presents Molly Cummings, a team leader with the Conduit Ministries Food Truck Outreach program a check for $1,000 to support the church’s efforts in feeding the hungry and homeless Wednesday at the ministries’ 20 Delaware Ave. location. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

However, for Eimiller and her organization, donating to a good cause or mission – such as Conduit Ministries- has a dual purpose.

“I started B.E. Strong 716 in the memory of my late son, Bannon Eimiller,” she said. “It’s in our name. Bannon Eimiller (B.E.) Strong. I really try to support organizations, projects and things that my son would have liked or wanted to support.”

Bannon L. Eimiller, 22, was fatally injured, on Sunday, May 9, 2021, after being struck by a vehicle in the town of Ellery while skateboarding, which inspired Eimiller to create her organization in his honor.

According to bestrong716.org, B.E. Strong is a 501(c)(3) non-profit created in October 2021. It has two missions: to make the 716 community stronger -one donation at a time- by giving to people and causes that would have mattered to Bannon Eimiller, and to help others who are grieving.

“I really believe my son would have supported the church’s food truck mission,” she said.

FeedMore of WNY officials told The Post-Journal in June that Chautauqua County has a 15% food insecurity rate, higher than the state’s 13.4% rate. Food pantries have been reporting increasing numbers of area residents visiting for food over the past few years, but those reports have showed even higher need in the past year.

“The very intended consequence of feeding people from a place of compassion is that you look, love, and serve a lot like Jesus did. And while there are some that may choose to believe that feeding the hungry limits their self-sufficiency,” Lienhart said. “I do not. No act of love is ever wasted. We will continue to feed people in the Jamestown and regional area as much as we have resources to do so. Currently we offer hot meals on Sunday afternoons in Brooklyn Square at our food truck starting at 3 p.m. until gone. Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. we are in a different town park to serve a meal to anyone that needs one.”

For more information visit conduitministries.com, or for more information on B.E. Strong 716 visit bestrong716.org.