Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's been nearly a year-and-a-half since a White supremacist drove three hours to the City of Buffalo to carry out a deadly rampage at the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue, killing 10 and injuring three others.
Although the teenage murderer's deeds brought fear, trauma and pain into the Buffalo community, it brought a wake-up call not only to residents, but another alarm bell to the United States of America that something must be done to put an end to cyclical mass murders and help communities like Buffalo.
Many local and national leaders and organizations came to the aid of the East Buffalo community, not only to offer thoughts and prayers but food, resources and promises to enact real change within the community.
This aid has not gone unnoticed by some members of the East Buffalo community.
"I have seen several different organizations that have come out, done marches, just trying to get the community to come together as one, we really have to begin supporting each other," says Andrea Bowman, niece of Pearl Young, one of the 10 who fell victim to the Tops massacre. "Yes, there have been some positive things that came out of it. Good Samaritan (Church) did a food drive, Mother Pearl was over our food pantry for many years. One of the ways we remembered her was giving back to the community through a food drive, and it was really successful, like the entire church came out to support and help out. There are things that happen in the community, since last year, where people are trying to do better."
"There is a process," says Glenwood Young, Jr., Pearl Young's nephew. "The governor has promised money, the mayor has promised money, but there's planning that has to go into effect and all that, but there's stuff right across the street, the Buffalo F.A.T.H.E.R.S. are out, there's a lot of things that are happening all the time now. So yes, it's steps in the right direction."
The Buffalo F.A.T.H.E.R.S. organization have been helping the community, delivering items to people in need for years. The have been present regularly on Jefferson Avenue.
Faith and community plays a big role in the lives of many East Buffalo residents, they believe that as the community continues to stand together against violence, change will start to take shape.
Sandra Scruggs and Merry Cherry of Buffalo believe that the greatest improvement seen so far in the community since the shooting is the unity that continues to spark conversation.
"A fire was lit under the Black community, it was a wake up call," says Scruggs. "We're going to start putting up grocery stores in our community, we're going to start doing. We're not poor and pitiful, we just had lost our way for a second because we've forgotten how much hatred is really directed at us. We've come together, like I have never seen this community come together."
The community appears to be in consensus that there is still a long way to go when it comes to enacting real change within the community, many are still fearful of gun violence. Many believe that there shouldn't be ways for ordinary people to get access to military-style weapons or have loopholes that allow guns to become deadlier and automatic.
"They have to hold to the promises they're going to do to make it better," says Cherry. "There has to be better protection. Even on our part, there are things that we can do to protect ourselves. We have to keep alertness, sometimes we just go about our days, not even thinking this is happening to us already, but I think there is more alertness in our community and the outside community."
