Pictured are B.J. Buonaiuto, Jamie Probst and his service dog Siouxsie, and Junie Eimiller. Submitted photo

Two local organizations will provide support this weekend in Buffalo — the site of a mass shooting that left 10 people dead and a community in mourning.

With the help of Tim Tripi, district manager of Tops Markets, Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care and B.E. Strong 716 orchestrated a plan to help Sunday at a location to be determined. A team from Hospice plans to offer bereavement services while B.E. Strong 716 will offer free hot meals and non-perishable items to those in need.

Junie Eimiller said she was contacted Tuesday by Jamie Probst, director of bereavement services at Hospice, who asked if she would be interested in “joining forces” to assist the Buffalo community. Just days earlier, 10 Black people were killed at a Tops in Buffalo that has led to an outpouring of support, including from the city’s sports teams.

“Hospice is all about caring for other families like we would care for our own,” Probst said. “I reached out to Junie at the B.E. Strong 716 organization because working through grief is about acknowledging the continued impact a person has — even when they are no longer with us — and the B.E. Strong foundation is all about doing good in honor of those we love.”

Probst’s food truck is capable of feeding a large number of people and so he thought it might be a good idea to bring folks from the Chautauqua County community to help support the Buffalo community.

“Jamie has a food truck and knows that I am a volunteer cook for our local UCANN mission and that I also prepared food for our B.E. Strong 716 Italian Dinner Fundraiser back in November,” Eimiller said. “Without hesitation, I agreed to help Jamie, as I knew this was something I could do.”

On Wednesday, B.J. Buonaiuto, event manager at Chautauqua County Hospice, made some phone calls and a tentative plan quickly came together.

“It doesn’t matter what your address is, we are all one community,” Buonaiuto said.

“With the Tops Market still closed due to an ongoing investigation,” Eimiller added, “there is a need within the community for not only fresh food and produce, but also basic necessities, such as shampoo, soap and toilet paper. That’s what B.E. Strong will help to provide.”

The organizations have been in contact with Buffalo officials to provide the bereavement services, food and non-perishable items. As of Friday afternoon, the exact location where Hospice and B.E. Strong 716 will be set up had not yet been decided.

Chris Allenson, manager of a Tops in Jamestown, provided a $100 gift card to purchase supplies locally. Tripi will also provide items from other Tops stores in the Buffalo area.

However, donations are still needed.

Anyone interested in donating non-perishable items can drop them off at Chautauqua Suites today in Mayville and receive a discounted ticket to Hospice’s Gala fundraiser. Items may also be dropped off at Tops on Washington Street in Jamestown.

Monetary donations can be sent via Venmo to @BEStrong716.

“Every penny donated to this cause will be used to help the Buffalo families impacted by this tragedy,” Eimiller said.

All donations made to B.E. Strong 716 are tax deductible. Anyone with questions may email Eimiller at b.e.strong716charity@gmail.com.

Eimiller began the nonprofit B.E. Strong 716 following the tragic death of her son in 2021. She said its mission is two-fold: to give back to the community in the 716 area code by donating to causes and individuals who would have been important to her son, Bannon, and to help others who are grieving.