Victims & Survivors Fund for Tops Buffalo Shooting
Donation protected
May 15, 2022 Update 5/19/2022 Update 5/20/2022 Update 5/24/2022 Update 5/25/2022, Update 5/27/2022
Thank you for visiting this page. I turned the accepting of donations back on after talking with Corp Tops. As the team sets up the distribution of all funds, they are accepting donations through September 2022.
There are many choices to donate to and I thank the over 1240 (now 1339) individuals that have donated so far from as far as Europe!
Thoughts and prayers are NOT ENOUGH to help the black community that was targeted in Saturdays shooting at Tops on Jefferson Ave. We need to ACT and help these families & support them in every meaningful way. This is not an affluent community, but it is a strong community. I'm glad the President and First Lady came.
All money raised is going to Tops Market/National Compassion Fund and these are the reasons: (Not one cent goes to me)
Tops was the ONLY grocery store willing to build in the East side, an underserved low income community. This is who they are.
1. No administration fees (Tops is paying admin fees for the Compassion Fund) to administrate the donations. Every cent will go to victims/survivors/other charities and they are already giving. This was very important to me.
The Tops store will continue paying employees from the closed store.
They have free food for local residents to pick up and other food pantries they are working with.
Special Buses are running daily so that people can get groceries and pick up prescriptions at other Tops Markets.
2. They have always been a local partner in fundraisers, like Roswell Cancer Institute
3. Corporate offices are here
4. I personally am a Tops shopper and trust they will continue to do right by Buffalo.
Tops is not a national company it's based in Buffalo and is suffering the loss just as we all are.
(Go fund me will take a small amount, and zero, not one cent goes to myself. I don't have access or any control over the money because the beneficiary has accepted)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
One of the victims, Andre Mackneil was at Tops to pick up his 3 year old's birthday cake. This just shatters my heart. Also, the security guard that was killed. Aaron Salter, what a true hero. He saved so many lives. He was a semester away from his degree at a local college. They gave him his degree posthumously. All the victims were just good, kind people and the damage and carnage will never heal, but it will get better.
I was raised in Buffalo and live here now, but I lived in the South for several years. I saw the racism, bigotry and ignorance of fellow Americans. Whether it's against Blacks, Jewish people, Asian, LGBTQ, Latino, Native American, Indi and or any other sect of OUR country, this hatred has to stop. Shame on us as a country that we have not done better for our black brothers and sisters. How awful that Blacks have to endure this hatred. This NEEDS TO STOP.
I'm one "white" person, who sat on my bed on Sunday (5/15) morning and thought, maybe I can raise money to help. I took $50 and started this page thinking maybe I can raise $500. Look at what good Americans have done here. I'm a nobody. But I care about this hatred, white supremacy shit. And lets say it, Trump poured gas on this. So I'm just one person. I'm afraid. But I did it anyway. News nation contacted me to be on TV by zoom. My first thought was, that will put a target on my back. I shouldn't have to be afraid of "other white" people that would kill me because I love ALL people. I'm very proud to be American and we can fix this if good people are willing to stand up.
My mother used to tell this story of me in elementary school. I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and there was a fashion show. My best friend was Elizabeth at the time and she was in the show. I told my mother to keep an eye out for her, and said "you'll know it's her because she is going to be wearing a red dress". Well, Elizabeth came out in the red dress, and she was black. My mother was proud that she raised a color blind child.
I've posted several updates, please take the time to read them for more information, list under "updates".
Update 5/19/2022
Today by Joni Falk, Organizer
Good Morning,
Individual donations from over 1200/1303 now people and the amount is up to more than $55,000. Lets keep going!
I had shared with you that a victims son had contacted me regarding help to fly some family to Buffalo. I gave him a lot of suggestions to get money now, including the National Compassion Fund where your money is going.
I spoke to him this morning and I'm happy to report that the family is getting all the cash now that they need. We cried together, I let him know on your behalf how many people care nationwide and send love.
He supports the money going to the National Compassion Fund/Tops.
I wanted to share some good news and also confirm that money is already flowing directly to surviving families of the victims.
Once our transfer goes through (not sure of timeline), Go fund me will add this page as a donator. I will take a picture and post it.
Thank you
Joni
Thank you for visiting this page. I turned the accepting of donations back on after talking with Corp Tops. As the team sets up the distribution of all funds, they are accepting donations through September 2022.
There are many choices to donate to and I thank the over 1240 (now 1339) individuals that have donated so far from as far as Europe!
Thoughts and prayers are NOT ENOUGH to help the black community that was targeted in Saturdays shooting at Tops on Jefferson Ave. We need to ACT and help these families & support them in every meaningful way. This is not an affluent community, but it is a strong community. I'm glad the President and First Lady came.
All money raised is going to Tops Market/National Compassion Fund and these are the reasons: (Not one cent goes to me)
Tops was the ONLY grocery store willing to build in the East side, an underserved low income community. This is who they are.
1. No administration fees (Tops is paying admin fees for the Compassion Fund) to administrate the donations. Every cent will go to victims/survivors/other charities and they are already giving. This was very important to me.
The Tops store will continue paying employees from the closed store.
They have free food for local residents to pick up and other food pantries they are working with.
Special Buses are running daily so that people can get groceries and pick up prescriptions at other Tops Markets.
2. They have always been a local partner in fundraisers, like Roswell Cancer Institute
3. Corporate offices are here
4. I personally am a Tops shopper and trust they will continue to do right by Buffalo.
Tops is not a national company it's based in Buffalo and is suffering the loss just as we all are.
(Go fund me will take a small amount, and zero, not one cent goes to myself. I don't have access or any control over the money because the beneficiary has accepted)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
One of the victims, Andre Mackneil was at Tops to pick up his 3 year old's birthday cake. This just shatters my heart. Also, the security guard that was killed. Aaron Salter, what a true hero. He saved so many lives. He was a semester away from his degree at a local college. They gave him his degree posthumously. All the victims were just good, kind people and the damage and carnage will never heal, but it will get better.
I was raised in Buffalo and live here now, but I lived in the South for several years. I saw the racism, bigotry and ignorance of fellow Americans. Whether it's against Blacks, Jewish people, Asian, LGBTQ, Latino, Native American, Indi and or any other sect of OUR country, this hatred has to stop. Shame on us as a country that we have not done better for our black brothers and sisters. How awful that Blacks have to endure this hatred. This NEEDS TO STOP.
I'm one "white" person, who sat on my bed on Sunday (5/15) morning and thought, maybe I can raise money to help. I took $50 and started this page thinking maybe I can raise $500. Look at what good Americans have done here. I'm a nobody. But I care about this hatred, white supremacy shit. And lets say it, Trump poured gas on this. So I'm just one person. I'm afraid. But I did it anyway. News nation contacted me to be on TV by zoom. My first thought was, that will put a target on my back. I shouldn't have to be afraid of "other white" people that would kill me because I love ALL people. I'm very proud to be American and we can fix this if good people are willing to stand up.
My mother used to tell this story of me in elementary school. I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and there was a fashion show. My best friend was Elizabeth at the time and she was in the show. I told my mother to keep an eye out for her, and said "you'll know it's her because she is going to be wearing a red dress". Well, Elizabeth came out in the red dress, and she was black. My mother was proud that she raised a color blind child.
I've posted several updates, please take the time to read them for more information, list under "updates".
Update 5/19/2022
Today by Joni Falk, Organizer
Good Morning,
Individual donations from over 1200/1303 now people and the amount is up to more than $55,000. Lets keep going!
I had shared with you that a victims son had contacted me regarding help to fly some family to Buffalo. I gave him a lot of suggestions to get money now, including the National Compassion Fund where your money is going.
I spoke to him this morning and I'm happy to report that the family is getting all the cash now that they need. We cried together, I let him know on your behalf how many people care nationwide and send love.
He supports the money going to the National Compassion Fund/Tops.
I wanted to share some good news and also confirm that money is already flowing directly to surviving families of the victims.
Once our transfer goes through (not sure of timeline), Go fund me will add this page as a donator. I will take a picture and post it.
Thank you
Joni
Please give what you can, I don't care if it's $5. You can modify the amount Go Fund Me takes out of your donation as well just use the slide bar under the auto amount.
The 10 people who were killed:
Roberta A. Drury of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 32
Margus D. Morrison of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 52
Andre Mackneil of Auburn, N.Y. – age 53
Aaron Salter of Lockport, N.Y. – age 55
Geraldine Talley of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 62
Celestine Chaney of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 65
Heyward Patterson of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 67
Katherine Massey of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 72
Pearl Young of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 77
Ruth Whitfield of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 86
Thank you for donating, thank you for reading. There are more good people in this world than bad ones. THANK YOU
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My sister Lynda, passed away suddenly in January. She is the smaller one in the picture of "the team". I know she's with me and proud that I could do something in a small way to help. I can't even imagine the grief of losing a loved one to violence like this.
The 10 people who were killed:
Roberta A. Drury of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 32
Margus D. Morrison of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 52
Andre Mackneil of Auburn, N.Y. – age 53
Aaron Salter of Lockport, N.Y. – age 55
Geraldine Talley of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 62
Celestine Chaney of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 65
Heyward Patterson of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 67
Katherine Massey of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 72
Pearl Young of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 77
Ruth Whitfield of Buffalo, N.Y. – age 86
Thank you for donating, thank you for reading. There are more good people in this world than bad ones. THANK YOU
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My sister Lynda, passed away suddenly in January. She is the smaller one in the picture of "the team". I know she's with me and proud that I could do something in a small way to help. I can't even imagine the grief of losing a loved one to violence like this.
Organiser and beneficiary
Joni Falk
Organiser
Buffalo, NY
National Compassion Fund
Beneficiary