Internships offer students access to mentors and career counseling, as well as real-life work experience to help mold their aspirations. But an internship at Rich’s would not be complete without an opportunity to see Rich’s strong family values in action.  

“We have a tradition of creating West Buffalo-focused immersive days in which our interns have the opportunity to experience who we are as a company outside of the functional area they’ve been working in,” said Kelly Reimann, Talent Acquisition Program Consultant, Rich Products. “These encounters with non-for-profit agencies providing essential services within our community are always eye-opening and gratifying for everyone involved.” 

For the 2024 immersion experience, Rich’s interns volunteered during a breakfast service at Friends of Night People in West Buffalo. Over the course of a few hours, a group of 16 interns helped serve and support nearly 150 people.   

For more than 50 years, Friends of Night People (FONP) have been providing food, clothing, medical care, counseling, and hope to those in need in the Buffalo community. FONP serves more than 141,000 meals annually, with humanity and dignity at the core of their efforts to serve. Today, Buffalonians experiencing food insecurity can find their next meal and a compassionate welcome at FONP’s Hudson Street location, serving weekday breakfasts and dinner daily.   

Over the course of their service, the interns met new Americans struggling to establish themselves and support their families, and people battling dependency and various physical and mental health crises. It was apparent that while the circumstances leading each person to FONP varied, their need to eat is universal.   

“I was deeply surprised and saddened to see young teenagers, who should be attending high school or college, falling victim to drug abuse and addiction,” recalled Rupsha Roy Choudhury, an intern in Rich’s Global Procurement department. “Witnessing these young individuals, who have so much potential and the ability to achieve great things, trapped in the vicious cycle of substance abuse was truly heartbreaking.” 

During the immersion experience, interns like Rupsha supported the dining experience for clients, helping serve dine-in or to-go meals prepared daily by an in-house chef whose extensive experience includes time in the restaurant industry and as a personal chef to the Buffalo Bills.  

Rupsha reported a long list of basic needs addressed by FONP, including daily meals, access to restrooms and showers, and weekly haircuts. But their work does not end there. She also noted that FONP offers support and guidance for individuals seeking state identification and other documents, as well as assistance in finding housing and employment.  

“In our daily hustle, we often take many things for granted, from basic necessities to the small comforts of life,” said Rupsha. “It is our duty to give back to the community we belong to and ensure that, together, we grow into better individuals. By serving others and contributing to the well-being of our community, we not only help those in need but also enrich our own lives, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.” 

Rupsha worked with a fellow intern to clear and clean dishes from the breakfast offering. She said participating in the immersion experience felt like an ode to her father, a dedicated physician who built a hospital near Kolkata, India that offers free medical care to those in need, and an opportunity to emulate Rich’s legacy of building and supporting the community alongside the company.  

“The feeling I get working at Rich’s reminds me of the values I grew up with: never leave anyone out in the cold, no matter how small the help or effort is, as it can bring a smile to someone’s face,” reflected Rupsha. “Rich’s embodies their core value: Do the right thing, no matter what.”