BUFFALO, N.Y. — The African Heritage Food Co-Op, Buffalo Go Green/Urban Fruits and Veggies, Resource Council of WNY, and FeedMore WNY are proud to announce a partnership to continue food assistance in East Buffalo, the Jefferson Avenue community, and to everyone impacted by the tragic attack at Tops Friendly Markets in May.

In partnership with Erie County’s Live Well Erie effort, the Resource Council of WNY, and Tops Friendly Markets along with their supportive vendor community, FeedMore WNY has been distributing Emergency Food Kits, produce, dairy, water and other essentials to the public at the Resource Council on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium on Fridays. With the currently scheduled distribution dates ending this Friday, July 8th, and recognizing the need for a collaborative and comprehensive approach to meet the continuing needs of the community, this group of organizations came together to form a partnership. As a key community leader, Reverend Mark E. Blue, President of the Buffalo NAACP and Pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Lackawanna, has played a central role in the emergency response from the start, including now as a central decision maker in how to continue to move forward. Rev. Blue says, “The plan announced today provides multiple times, locations, and ways for everyone in the community to access nutritious food.”

The African Heritage Food Co-Op’s mobile produce market will be available five days a week at different locations along Jefferson Avenue. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the mobile produce market will be at Jefferson Avenue and Southampton St. beginning at 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays near the M&T bank on Jefferson beginning at 10 a.m., and on Saturdays at the Farmers Market outside of Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium from 9-4. African Heritage Food Co-Op Founder Alexander Wright says, “We want to make sure that our community continues to have healthy options. We thank our partners at M&T Bank and the World Central Kitchen for helping us provide healthy produce and our friends at the Independent Health foundation for being able to provide nonperishable, hygiene and baby products.”

One of the sources of produce for these events is Buffalo Go Green/Urban Fruits and Veggies, which focuses on growing healthy, organic fruits and vegetables for the community. Allison DeHonney, Buffalo Go Green/Urban Fruits and Veggies’ CEO says, “Our concern is that the residents of the community have what they need with respect to healthy food options. Our collective goal is that we work strategically, not only to support emergency responses but to change the local food system for the betterment of everyone.”

FeedMore WNY President & CEO Tara A. Ellis says, “We have a large network of food pantries and meal sites in the area that are ready to help provide food assistance to everyone. Later this month, one of our current community partners, the CAO food pantry, is moving into the Resource Council of WNY building. When it opens, it will be the tenth food pantry in the Jefferson Avenue community.” A flyer with the locations and hours of the community partner sites is available here.

Brandi L. Haynes, Vice President of Adult Services says, “We are very excited about this partnership between the Community Action Organization of Western New York, Resource Council of WNY and FeedMore WNY. We have been working collectively to bring additional food resources to the 14208 zip code for several months and our relocation plan was finalized about a month before the Tops tragedy. We are committed to improving food security, not just in the Cold Spring community but throughout Erie and Niagara Counties, with various nutrition assistance programs.”

In addition, anyone over the age of 60 who is unable to prepare meals on their own may also be eligible for home-delivered meals from FeedMore WNY, and in partnership with Erie County Senior Services, we provide hot, nutritious meals during the lunchtime hour to dining facilities around the county. Meals are served Monday through Friday. Recipients must be 60 years of age or older to be eligible. To check eligibility and begin the process of registering for either home-delivered meals or a dining facility, residents should call (716) 822-2002.

Deputy County Executive, Maria Whyte added simply, “Erie County has been proud to stand with FeedMore WNY and all our community partners in the aftermath of this horrific, white-supremacist attack and we would like to thank them for their ongoing good work.”

In partnership with Erie County’s Live Well Erie effort and the Resource Council of WNY, emergency food distributions will continue with new hours and a small shift in days. Distribution at Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium will now take place on Mondays from 2-6, and distribution at the Resource Council of WNY will be on Wednesdays from 2-6. To date, the Resource Council of WNY, Tops Friendly Markets, Erie County, and FeedMore WNY have partnered to distribute more than half a million pounds of food to feed 73,399 people during these distributions. Catherine Roberts, Resource Council of WNY President and CEO says, “The issue of food insecurity in the 14208 zip code has been amplified with the temporary closure of Tops Markets following the mass tragedy that took place on May 14th. As a community hub and safe haven to residents of all ages, the Resource Council of WNY remains committed to helping families in need by providing access to a multitude of community resources at our facility located at 347 East Ferry Street. Thanks to this collaborative effort between partner organizations, food assistance will be readily available at various outlets throughout the Cold Spring community.”