Equity in the Region
For 17 years WEDI has been working to find equity for underserved students and would be small business owners first on the West Side, now in our region. Our clients are mostly people of color, recent refugees and immigrants, and women. Our staff recognizes that it is our personal and organizational privilege to provide support to people as they work to thrive in an established, age-old, inequitable system. Our city, our region, our nation could unleash immense economic power and all that accompanies affluence: safe, well-tended neighborhoods, good public schools, blocks lit up by storefronts… if unfettered by racism.
We grieve for the victims of the racist shooting at Tops on May 14, 2022 and their families, our friends, clients, East Side neighbors, city, region… our home. So we can heal and better connect, here are some resources to find support.
Compiled by 211WNY
Updated 03/17/2023
View a printable PDF of resources here.
FOOD & OTHER NEEDED ITEMS
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At 347 E Ferry Street: the Rooted in Love Community Fridge is open 24/7 providing access to free food and resources outside of the Resource Council of WNY..
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Community Fridge at Gigi's, 257 E Ferry St, is plugged in outside and available 24/7 for food.
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The Joseph Project Mobile Food Pantry is at 234 Jefferson Avenue at 4:30 the first Friday of every month.
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Rich Street Food Pantry is open Tuesday 9:30am-2:30pm (closed for lunch 12 noon-12:30pm) for residents in zip code 14211 with a food emergency.
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Every Bottom Covered provides diapers at the Delavan Grider Community Center, 877 E Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, 14215. Call 716-896-7021 for more details.
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Buffalo Collegiate Community Love Fridge is available at 45 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo, 14214, open 24/7 providing access to free food.
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FeedMore WNY provides home-delivered meals for homebound older adults (60 and older) and people living with disabilities; call 716-822-2002.
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Here is a list of local food pantries near the Tops on Jefferson.
COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH, & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
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Crisis Services is available for phone counseling/support 24/7 at 716-834-3131.
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Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) is offering immediate mental health support and treatment in the wake of Saturday's tragic event, both virtually and in-person at 462 Grider St, available 7 days a week from 8am-10:30pm. Call the Help Center at 716-898-1594 or schedule a virtual visit at: ECMC Virtual Help Center Visits.
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Spectrum Health & Human Services offers free, confidential counseling and support, Monday-Friday, 8am-12 midnight; call 716-566-6506.
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The NY Project Hope line is available for free crisis counseling 7 days a week, 9am-10pm, at 844-863-9314.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & COMPENSATION
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Victims' family members can get more information about compensation programs for victims' families from the Erie County District Attorney's Office at 716-858-2400. This line is answered Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm. Messages are monitored at other times. Alternatively, family members can call Erie County Victim/Witness Services at 716-858-4640.
CRIME VICTIM SERVICES
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The NYS Office of Victim Services funds Victim Assistance Programs (VAPs) across New York State, which can be searched for using OVS Resource Connect or by calling 716-858-2400. The following OVS-funded programs can help victims and family members file claims for assistance and also provide crisis counseling, support groups, advocacy, and other services.
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PEACE (Parents Encouraging Accountability & Closure for Everyone), Inc. provides aid and assistance to families and friends who have lost a loved one to homicide; call 716-842-8700.
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Victim Witness Assistance Bureau provides direct comprehensive and holistic support services for all crime victims, witnesses, and their family members; call 716-858-4640.
OTHER RESOURCES FOR IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS & FAMILIES
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The NYS Department of Health offers the Growing Up Healthy Hotline, available 24/7 to provide information about food access, nutrition assistance, mental health care, health care, and children's needs. Call 1-800-522-5006.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Join the Buffalo Mutual Aid Network's Facebook group to learn about volunteer opportunities.
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Follow Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR)'s Facebook page to learn about events and volunteer opportunities.
NEEDS & DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
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Buffalo Mutual Aid Network is collecting monetary donations to meet direct, individual needs; donate via their GoFundMe.
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Buffalo Community Fridge is requesting donations of food goods including fresh produce, milk, eggs, cheese, baby formula, baby food, juice, water, labeled cooked meals, and cooked meat (NO raw meat) to be dropped off at one of these locations.
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Candles in the S.U.N. (Save Ur Neighborhood) is accepting monetary donations to support fresh produce stands throughout the East Side; donate here.
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FEED Buffalo is accepting monetary donations to provide organic and Halal food; monetary donations accepted here. Donations of food (halal options if possible), hygiene products, and personal products will be accepted by drop-off at 456 Massachusetts Avenue, Buffalo; call 716-588-0137 to inquire about donating.y
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FeedMore WNY is accepting donations of food at 91 Holt St, Buffalo, NY 14206 from Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm. Requested items include nonperishable protein items, shelf-stable fruits and vegetables, beverages, snacks, toilet paper, personal care items, and diapers. Monetary donations can be made at feedmorewny.org. For any questions, call FeedMore WNY at 716-822-2002.
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20-year-old shooting survivor Zaire Goodman and mother Zeneta Everhart are requesting books from this list, which they will distribute to community centers, schools, and local orgs in an effort to help children learn about race, racism, and Black history.
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Donate a meal from An Extra Scoop to the Buffalo Community Fridge.
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VOICE Buffalo Radical Love Fund is accepting donations to be used to help the community impacted by the horrific violence on May 14th.
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The following are verified GoFundMe fundraisers to assist people impacted by the tragedy (with people and groups who organized each fundraiser in parentheses):
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Community Support to Feed the East Side (Feed Buffalo and partners)
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Victims of Shooting at Tops Buffalo NY (Buffalo resident Joni Falk)
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The families of the victims of Buffalo shooting (OnCore Golf CEO Keith Blakely)
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Buffalo Memorial (Reporters Ron Insana and Luke Russert)
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Buffalo Mass Shooting Help The Families Fund (Board of VictimsFirst.org)
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Buffalo Tragedy Donate to victims families (Esra’a Taha of Buffalo Skincare and Beauty)
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More fundraisers here: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/buffalo-mass-shooting-fundraisers
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New donation opportunities and community needs will be posted by Jewish Family Services of WNY here.
HELPLINES
211: Available for a complete list of updated community resources. They can be reached by dialing 2-1-1 or texting your zip code to 898-211
Crisis Services 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131
NY Project Hope: to reach the emotional support helpline call 7-844-863-9314
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press "2") to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
HEALTH EQUITY
Know your options for Medicare Plans in New York, whether you're looking for Original Medicare or Medical Advantage (complied by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
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Who Qualifies for Medicare in New York
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Medicare Plans in New York
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Cost of Medicare in New York
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Medicare Resources in New York
ADDICTION RECOVERY
It’s clear that college students are under a lot of pressure from school and their peers, leading them to engage in risky behaviors like substance abuse. This guide covers which substances pose the greatest risks to young adults, the potential consequences of being caught, and how to get better.