PUSH’s Statement of Commitment and Resource

Picture of Ben Siegel

Ben Siegel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ben Siegel, Director of Communications (716.587.1063, ben@pushbuffalo.org)

May 19, 2022

In this moment of collective grief, PUSH Buffalo stands with and for our beloved community in the homes and hearts of all those affected by last week’s racist terrorist attack. We offer our full support in coalition with those on the frontlines and most impacted by this heinous tragedy.

Buffalo is the sixth-most segregated and third-poorest city in the country. White supremacy has historical roots in neighborhood division and discriminatory redlining across the city, in legislative policy, and in the violence that took place on Saturday. Decades of disinvestment by city leadership have intentionally alienated entire communities of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color from access to quality education, adequate transportation, safe housing, viable work, healthy food, environmental protection, and community security.

We recognize the emotional, physical, spiritual, and economic labor that has been spent by generations of Black women and Black people to keep their communities whole. We call on all white-identifying community members to act in direct service of those who are already burdened by this labor, grief, and shock.

It is the responsibility of white-identifying community members to listen and root themselves in the expressed needs of Black, Indigenous and other People of Color on the frontlines of daily racist assault and terror. Those efforts must address the immediate and urgent needs of those most affected, with steadfast dedication to sustained support in the months to come.

True healing will take place with restorative justice. We must elect officials who are from and for the community, who enact effective policy change that supports disenfranchised people, who build toward an ecosystem of social, economic, and climate justice for all who are oppressed. It is about the eradication of racist systems that continually enable, support, and excuse the violence that afflicts Black and Brown people every single day. Community care, mutual aid, resistance, resolve, love, and service have and will continue to lead the way.

Currently, PUSH and many other local partners in coalition are organizing a Pooled Community-Owned Fund to hold financial donations and do the deep-level community assessment and planning that addresses root-cause systemic issues. This fund will be owned, managed, and deployed by the community under the ANCHOR brand, a coalition that came together at the beginning of the pandemic to bring together bottom-up and top-down approaches to serving frontline needs. More information on this groundbreaking initiative will be made available soon. We appreciate your support.

With love and solidarity,

PUSH Buffalo

 

 

Community Resources + Volunteer Efforts

PUSH Buffalo is currently working in coalition with community leaders across the city to provide coordination, collaboration, technical assistance to frontline leaders, asset mapping, fundraising, and organizing.

Below is an incomplete listing of local efforts being made right now. Updates will be made as swiftly as possible:

Learning Resources

Mental Health Support

Food Resources

  • FeedMore WNY, Resource Council of WNY, and Council Member Ulysees O. Wingo Food Assistance
    • 347 East Ferry St., through May 27, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • 1000 Jefferson Ave., through May 27, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Candles in the S.U.N. – Free Fresh Produce
    • 1300 Jefferson, May 17, 3 to 5 p.m.
    • Mandela Market (272 East Ferry), May 18, 12 to 2 p.m.
    • MLK Park (near fountain), May 19, 5 to 7 p.m.
    • 571 William Street, May 20, 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church (790 Humboldt Parkway, 716-896-4364)
    • Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Rich St. Food Pantry (WIC Building, 930 Genesee St., 716-314-7050)
    • Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Taste of Faith Food Pantry (594 Winslow Ave, 716-895-7019)
    • Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Food Pantry at LBJ (167 West Humboldt, 716-480-5153)
    • Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Catholic Central Food Pantry (350 Dewey Ave)
    • Every other Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
  • Buffalo Creek Academy (Call 716-217-2661 for pick up groceries and delivery)
  • FeedMore WNY (91 Holt Street, 716-852-1304)
  • Buffalo Community Fridge (257 E. Ferry Street, 610-457-3859)
  • Rooted in Love Community Fridge (347 E. Ferry Street)
  • Luke AME Zion Church (314 E. Ferry Street, 716-883-0961)
  • Group Ministries Inc. (1333 Jefferson Avenue, 716-883-4367)
  • Coldspring Community Foundation (234 Glenwood Avenue, 716-310-3541)
  • Upper Room Church of God in Christ (131 Florida Street, 716-884-2512)
  • Community Action Information Center (103 Wohlers Avenue, 716-885-5925)
  • Food Pantry and Clothing Closet Greater Works Christian Fellow (210 Southampton Street, 716-887-2303)

Transportation Needs

  • Tops Supermarket
    • Offering rides to customers from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., bringing them to another grocery store on the corner of Jefferson Ave & Riley.
  • Lyft Rideshare
    • Buffalo residents in 14208 and 14209 zip codes can receive a free ride up to $20 to the Tops at 425 Niagara Street and Price Rite at 250 Elmwood Avenue.
    • Use code: BUFFALOLYFTUP
  • Uber Rideshare
    • Offering up to $20 off a ride (max of 8 rides per customer)
    • Use code: SHOPBUF
  • NFTA
    • Bus fares on the following bus routes have been suspended through the end of May (map):
      • #12 Utica
      • #13 Kensington
      • #18 Jefferson
      • #24 Genesee
    • Going Places Van, Erie County Senior Services (716-881-5150)
    • CAO, Senior Ride Program (716-881-5150)
    • Schiller Park Senior Citizen Center, Senior Ride Program (716-895-2727)
    • Multi-Service Senior Center, Buffalo Urban League (716-847-8951)

Financial Needs

  • NYS Office of Victims Services
    • OVS staff will be in Buffalo this week to help victims and families obtain financial assistance and provide information about how service providers can access the additional funding to expand services and support for victims of violence. OVS staff will be set up in a closed location accessible only to victims and their families in order to protect victims’ privacy and preserve confidentiality. The agency provides a critical safety net and can pay for expenses resulting from a crime when individuals have no other way to pay for them, including funeral and burial expenses, medical and counseling costs, among other expenses, and can assist victims and families with lost wages and loss of support.
    • Agency staff will help individuals file claims to receive financial assistance for the following:
      • Funeral and burial expenses: Up to $3,000 for an emergency award for these costs and up to $6,000 total.
      • Medical and counseling expenses: No cap on the amount of financial assistance available to individuals and families, which allows victims and survivors to get help for as long as they need it.
      • Lost wages and support, up to $30,000.
      • Loss of essential personal property, up to $500 for items necessary for health and welfare, like eyeglasses and clothes, includes $100 in cash.
      • Moving expenses, up to $2,500.
      • Transportation to medical and other necessary appointments.
      • Vocational and occupational rehabilitation.
    • The Office of Victim Services is payer of last resort, meaning all other sources of assistance, such as medical or automobile insurance and workers’ compensation, must be exhausted before the agency can reimburse victims or their family members for out-of-pocket losses related to the crime. An individual’s eligibility is not dependent upon an arrest or conviction in connection with the crime.
  • Emergency Assistance Office Department of Social Services (716-858-8000)
    • Shelter arrears, utility arrears, moving expense assistance, storage unit fees, etc.

Where Can I Donate or Volunteer?

Most locations that are accepting donations of food and personal items are also asking for volunteers to support organizing efforts. Contact those organizations directly to learn what’s needed.

  • Buffalo Community Fridge (257 East Ferry)
    • Collecting everyday groceries (fresh and non-perishable) and personal care items:
      • Water bottles
      • Gatorade
      • Fresh fruit and vegetables
      • Diapers
      • Tissues
      • Toilet paper
      • Feminine hygiene products
      • Dish soap
      • Baby formula
    • Physical labor needed (stop by any time):
      • Organize materials
      • Hand out donations
      • Clean
      • Stock
      • Organize volunteer efforts
      • Stop by anytime to assist
    • FeedMore WNY (91 Holt Street, 716-852-1305, @Feedmorewn)
      • Up-to-date Information about volunteering and donation efforts.
    • Black Love Resists in the Rust (@BLRRBuffalo)
      • Resources and information for volunteering efforts.
    • Rooted in Love Community Fridge (347 East Ferry Street, @Rooted_in_love_inc; Twitter: RootedInLoveWNY, Facebook: RootedInLoveInc)
    • The Challenger (Twitter: @the_challengers_news, Facebook: challengernews)
      • Resources and information to donate food.
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9AM-5PM
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PUSH Buffalo
429 Plymouth Avenue, Suite 1
Buffalo, New York 14213
Tel: 716 884-0356
Fax: 716 884-0358
Email: info@pushbuffalo.org
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