Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Food is being distributed to nearby residents who are now in a food desert with the temporary closure of Tops following the shooting on Jefferson Avenue Saturday.
Tops is offering free shuttles from Jefferson and Riley to the Elmwood store daily from 10am to 7pm. Tops is also teaming up with FeedMore WNY to distribute free food daily from 9am to 9pm until May 27th.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for us to help the community in this time," says Rev. Terry King, executive director of Saving Grace Ministries. For those who wish to donate, you can give directly to 91 Holt St. at Feedmore headquarters.
The attack at the Jefferson Avenue Tops opens up an opportunity to help, says Pastor Andrae Kamoche with Rehoboth House of Prayer. "Give them fresh produce meat, all kinds of vegetables all kinds of canned goods and stuff so even though there was bad God allowed us to do some good," says Kamoche. He received donations from Walmart and Desiderio's.
Common Councilmember Ulysses Wingo, however, has a warning for the community. "The free food that will be given away it is intended to stay free. The food is intended to be given as donations to the families who need it. The food is intended to be given away for free and it is intended to be consumed for free," says Wingo. He says stores caught selling free food will face penalties. "Your licenses will be restricted and revoked in the Masten District. And if it's not in the Masten district, I will make sure I follow up with that district council member to follow up with authorities to see what they want to do."
The Tops on Jefferson opened in 2003
