BUFFALO, N.Y. — Volunteers from M&T Bank spent their Monday packing one million pencils to kick off WNY Community Impact Week.
The pencils will be distributed to local students in need through the Buffalo-based nonprofit, The Teacher's Desk. According to the bank's Regional President Eric Feldstein, "They came in eight large freights from ships from all over, and we've gotten those large pallets and over the next few days assembling one million pencils, in support of our students and they're going to be assembled into Pancho Packs and given to those students throughout the Western New York community."
The initiative was inspired by the late Buffalo Bills superfan, Ezra Castro. You may remember him as Pancho Billa. When he died in 2019, he didn't want flowers at his funeral. Instead, he asked that people donate school supplies to local kids in need.
M&T's Community Impact Week was started to make a positive impact on the community. It is organized twice a year.
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