We grieve for the victims 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 6/17

View a printable PDF of resources here.

FOOD & OTHER NEEDED ITEMS

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  • FeedMore WNY will be distributing free food outside of the Resource Council of WNY, 347 E Ferry St, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 2pm-7pm, thru July 8th.

    • Also 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.

  • FeedMore WNY will also be distributing free food at the Johnnie B. Wiley Center, 1100 Jefferson Ave, every Friday, 3pm-7pm thru July 8th.

  • Community Fridge at Gigi's, 257 E Ferry St, is plugged in outside and available 24/7 for food.

  • Food Delivery available from Buffalo Creek Academy; call 716-217-2661 or sign up for assistance using this online form. Will pick up groceries and deliver to the community near Tops.

  • Heart of the City Neighborhoods and Fruit Belt Community Land Trust are providing gift cards for food and 3 months of rent and utilities assistance; call (716) 882-7661 or (716) 893-1473 or email info@fbcommunitylandtrust.org

  • Starting May 19th, every Thursday at 5:30pm and every Saturday at 1:30pm, Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR) and Colored Girls Bike Too will be hosting emergency food pop-ups at different locations around the East Side. Call BLRR at (716) 402-8318 for details. Specific requests for food support can be made to these organizations using this form.

  • The following food pantries have extended emergency hours to accommodate the food needs of the community surrounding Tops on Jefferson (see addresses and contact info at the listings linked in each pantry's name below, but disregard the regular hours posted in the listings, and substitute for the extended hours below):

    • Joseph Project Mobile Food Pantry, 449 Masten Ave, 716-854-1001: Saturday, 3pm-5pm.

    • Rich Street Food Pantry: Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday, 9:30am-2:30pm (closed for lunch 12 noon-12:30pm) until at least May 27th.

  • Every Bottom Covered provides diapers at the Delavan Grider Community Center, 877 E Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, 14215. Call 716-896-7021 for more details.

  • African Heritage Food Co-op is providing free delivery of free grocery items, diapers, baby formula, etc. while supplies last; call them during the week, Monday-Friday, at (716) 253-1521 and they will deliver the items to you within 24 hours.

  • Buffalo Collegiate Community Love Fridge is available at 45 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo, 14214, open 24/7 providing access to free food.

  • FeedMore WNY provides home-delivered meals for homebound older adults (60 and older) and people living with disabilities; call 716-822-2002.

  • If you need your prescriptions from Tops, call Tops at 716-515-0055 to inquire about getting your medications delivered.

  • Here is a list of local food pantries near the Tops on Jefferson.

  • Group Ministries, 1333 Jefferson Ave, is providing food support via their food pantry on Mondays & Wednesdays, 10am-2pm.

TRANSPORTATION

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  • A shuttle is running to Tops on Elmwood with pick up at Jefferson Ave & Riley St. Available daily from 10am-7pm.

  • Hearts & Hands is providing free transportation to community members on the East Side of Buffalo who need access to the grocery store while TOPS is closed; call 716-406-8311 ext. 103.

  • Free Lyft rides available in zip codes 14208 and 14209 for up to $25 worth of travel to and from Tops Friendly Markets (425 Niagara St, Buffalo) and Price Rite (250 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo). Use code "BuffaloLyftUp".

  • Free Uber rides available in zip codes 14202 and 14209 for up to $20 worth of travel to and from Tops Friendly Markets (425 Niagara St, Buffalo) and Price Rite (250 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo). Use code "SHOPBUF".

COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH, & COMMUNITY SUPPORT

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  • Free grief support and conversation are available to any person at the Johnnie B. Wiley Center, 1100 Jefferson Ave, daily thru Friday, June 10th, 3pm-7pm. Services are being provided by mental health counselors from Best Self Behavioral Health, Crisis Services, Endeavor Health Services, and Spectrum Health & Human Services, as well as faith leaders. No appointment is needed and specialized services are available to children. All are welcome.

  • Free trauma-informed support plus banking, bill pay, and other services will be provided to those in need at the Resource Council of WNY's Community Resource Center, 347 E Ferry Street, from Monday-Friday, 9am-1:30pm & 6:30pm-9pm; Saturday, 2pm-6pm; and Sunday, 9am-4pm.

  • Crisis Services is available for phone counseling/support 24/7 at 716-834-3131.

  • Renovated Soul Marriage & Family Therapy, PLLC is offering free grief support to anyone impacted by the tragedy. Call 716-275-4264 or email Rita@RenovatedSoulMFT.com for support.

  • 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.

  • Spectrum Health & Human Services has extended the hours for free, confidential counseling and support, Monday-Friday, 8am-12 midnight; call 716-566-6506.

  • The NY Project Hope line is available for free crisis counseling 7 days a week, 9am-10pm, at 844-863-9314.

  • Micro-grants of up to $500 are available for Black people impacted by the tragedy at Tops, to be used for anything mental health related; fill out this form.

  • Free yoga classes offered by Be Well at Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium at 2 pm each Saturday running June 25-September 24.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & COMPENSATION

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  • Victims' family members may be eligible for compensation to help with funeral costs. For more information, contact the NYS Office of Victim Services at 1-800-247-8035 or ovs.ny.gov

  • Resource Council of WNY will be providing assistance with funeral costs; contact Dr. Catherine Roberts, CEO, at (716) 259-9844.

  • 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.

  • West Herr Automotive Group, Zephyr Partners, and Cross Country Mortgage are working together to provide assistance with counseling and funeral expenses; call 716-851-4841.

  • Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR) will provide micro-grants of up to $500 for Black people impacted by the tragedy at Tops, to be used for anything mental health related; call BLRR at (716) 402-8318 for details or fill out this form.

CRIME VICTIM SERVICES

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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.

  • NY Candle Cafe is offering free candle-making classes for immediate family members of fallen victims to make remembrance candles in their name; call 716-768-2298.

  • Solana's Creation and KDC Party Rentals & More are teaming up to provide free decorating and more to the famliies of fallen victims. Contact at info@kdcpartyrentals.com or call (716) 458-6105 or (716) 770-5767.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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  • The Johnnie B. Wiley Community Center is looking for volunteers to assist with greeting and door-to-door outreach pertaining to their free pop-up mental health services. Sign up for shifts here.

  • Join the Buffalo Mutual Aid Network's Facebook group to learn about volunteer opportunities.

  • Follow Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR)'s Facebook page to learn about events and volunteer opportunities.

  • Mental health therapists can donate free spots on caseload to anyone impacted by the tragedy; contact Amy at viola_amy@#yahoo.com for details.

  • Colored Girls Bike Too is seeking volunteers to deliver food to residents and support neighborhood pop-up food distribution sites; contact them on Instagram.

NEEDS & DONATION OPPORTUNITIES

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HELPLINES

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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

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Crisis Services 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131

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NY Project Hope: to reach the emotional support helpline call 7-844-863-9314

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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

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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)