Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A day of service and remembrance will take place Wednesday, marking three years since the massacre at Tops on Jefferson, where ten people were killed.
Ekua Mends-Aidoo of the Clementine Gold Group says the idea came about as a way to honor those killed three years ago. "We're challenging folks right from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to give back in the community through service projects in honor of each of these victims," says Mends-Aidoo. That will be followed by a block party from 3-7 p.m.
Mends-Aidoo says there will be three different gardens that will be worked on in the Fruit Belt. "One is on Cherry and Jefferson, and the other is the one at 37 Mulberry, which the Fruit Belt Coalition takes care of," she says. There will also be community fridges people can fill, plus a service project for High Point. "We know that this past week has been Nursing Week, so folks that take care of our elderly in our community, but then also to visit with some of those members, those senior members in High Point Care facility as well."
She says this is in memory of Ruth Whitfield. "Ruth was someone who loved flowers, but she also was a caregiver until her death. So in talking to Garnell Whitfield, he said that he felt like honoring his mother through making sure that we spent time with seniors would be something that she would absolutely love in the essence of what she did and who she was," adds Mends-Aidoo.
Mends-Aidoo has one more challenge. "We're challenging folks to do tiny acts of service and kindness throughout the year in honor of these folks. It was a tragic day, I think everyone will remember where they were in that moment when they heard the news. But we also want to take back that day and do something in honor of these family members, because many of them were stewards in the community," says Mends-Aidoo. "Aaron Salter, we know, was building a hydro powered car, so our plan is to have some STEM related activities for the day, the community component, so kids can get into STEM and grow in that way as well," notes Mends-Aidoo.
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