We opened our first Buffalo store in 1977 and since that first year, we’ve made connections with hundreds of local community organizations to help strengthen our neighborhoods and improve the lives of our customers and employees.

In every community we serve, we partner with the local food banks and United Ways, who serve the greatest needs of hundreds of thousands of people throughout our communities every day. But we don’t stop there. We also get to know and build relationships with smaller, local non-profit organizations to support our neighbors. Our employees live and work in these neighborhoods, and are passionate about the organizations, projects, events, and fundraisers that better the community for all.

Over the years, we’ve offered ongoing support for many of our local and regional non-profit partners. As the needs of our community continue to change and evolve, we also seek out organizations that can address those needs as they arise. As we continue to support our Western New York Community, we focus our efforts on key areas where we can have the greatest impact – health, education and youth support, and economic mobility.

Massachusetts Avenue Project
Education creates opportunity. That’s why we’re focused on helping our youth through job and mentorship opportunities, support of after-school programs, and tuition assistance. The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is a nonprofit urban farm nestled on Buffalo’s West Side. MAP employs youth year-round and teaches them job readiness and leadership skills through farming, a mobile market, kitchen and nutrition education, as well as food policy and civic engagement.

Wegmans has helped support MAP in its mission to create a healthier, better community through its urban farmhouse, where MAP educates the community on how localizing our food system can benefit people, the planet, and the local economy.

Buffalo Peacemakers

The Buffalo Peacemakers are a dedicated team of volunteers and staff who work all over the City of Buffalo. Their primary mission is to prevent and interrupt the cycle of violence, mentor at-risk youth, comfort victims and bring the community together. Peacemakers help to keep youth safe as they go to school, as well as help them make better decisions to overcome the obstacles and challenges they face.

Wegmans has partnered with the Buffalo Peacemakers through holiday food donations, supporting an important mentoring program, and responding to immediate food needs in the wake of the tragic mass shooting in East Buffalo this past May.

SABAH

At Wegmans, we are committed to improving the physical, emotional, and mental health of our communities by increasing access to wholesome food and resources for living a healthier, better life. Along with Wegmans, SABAH celebrates its 45th season of serving the community. SABAH helps individuals challenged by a physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disability by providing therapeutic recreation, promoting fitness, and developing social and communication skills.

When the organization first got its start, it provided adaptive ice skating for those with special needs over the winter. SABAH now offers six year-round programs, on the ice and the turf. Wegmans has been a premier sponsor of SABAH’s annual ice show, which highlights the talents of those served.

As we reflect on the impact we’ve made with the help of our employees, customers, and community partners over the last 45 years, we look ahead to many more years of making a difference together.