Located in the East Side neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, the Tops Market was more than just a place to shop for goods—it was a community gathering space for nearly two decades. In 2003, many residents of the predominantly Black neighborhood fought to bring the store to an area limited by smaller, convenience stores that lacked abundant fresh food.
10 people who, like any other day, came to shop and check in with their neighbors tragically lost their lives on May 14. Three more were injured and an entire community was left traumatized.
WCK quickly established a food distribution site and over the course of several weeks, local partners helped us provide restaurant meals and fresh produce to impacted families.
Coming together with local organizations, we spread love and hope the WCK way—providing comforting meals & fresh produce for families in need. Watch the video to see our team in action.
By the numbers
hot meals served
of produce distributed
partner restaurants
Carlton
Carlton works in the Deli at Tops Market in Buffalo. When the shooting began, he grabbed his coworkers and they locked themselves in a walk-in cooler.
Javon
With no grocery stores close by, WCK jumped in to provide apples, oranges, greens, and more. Javon was very excited to see that we were serving fresh fruit alongside hot meals.
WCK Relief Team
To provide extra comfort, our Relief Team brought bubbles and outdoor entertainment for children in Buffalo. In addition to serving food from favorite local restaurants, we also provided ice cream!
WCK Partner
African Heritage Food Co-op
The Buffalo organization was founded in 2016 with the mission of providing fresh produce to areas of the city considered to be a food desert at an affordable price. Together WCK and African Heritage Food Co-op (AFHC) distributed thousands of pounds of produce, including items locally grown, to families unable to get groceries after the shooting. Now, with support from the state, AFHC will be opening a community grocery store.