Warming House to benefit from Bills’ 50/50 raffle this Sunday; entry available online

ST. BONAVENTURE  — St. Bonaventure University’s Warming House is one of 20 organizations in Western New York benefiting from the Huddle for Hunger 50/50 split raffle during the Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers game on Sunday, Sept. 27.

But if you purchase raffle tickets online through this direct link, every dollar you spend will go toward the Warming House and support its ability to provide meals and hospitality to guests throughout the year. (Raffle tickets purchased at the game will be split evenly 20 ways.)

“Being selected for Huddle for Hunger for the third time is incredibly meaningful to us,” said Mike (Hiryu) Waseda, director of the university’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern. “Working alongside other organizations has shown me how much we all rely on and support one another. We may serve our community in different ways, but we share the same goal of helping our neighbors.”

Waseda is especially proud that some of the Warming House student meal coordinators will be at Highmark Stadium Sunday to represent the Warming House and volunteer alongside other community members. Those attending include Katie Beyer, graduate assistant at the Warming House, and seniors Morgan McManus and Ashley Cervantes-Castillo, who are meal coordinators.

The split raffle at a Bills’ game often approaches $300,000 and remains open at the stadium and online until the drawing is held in the fourth quarter.

The Warming House is one of the oldest student-run soup kitchens in the nation. Located in a large storefront at 164 N. Union St. in downtown Olean, the Warming House is open six days a week year-round and has a support team of more than 300 student volunteers and almost 100 community members.