716 CommUNITY Day

Together, we can create a more equitable and vibrant Buffalo for all.

Where: MLK Jr. Park, Buffalo, NY

Hosted By: Trusted Gives, in partnership with Dion’s Dreamers

Presented By: Tops Friendly Markets & Renewal by Andersen

When: July 16, 2026

What Happened

716 CommUNITY Day is Trusted Gives’ annual day-long celebration of community, health, and well-being in East Buffalo. For four years, it’s been a rain-or-shine event — and July 16, 2026 tested that commitment like never before.

Wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada blanketed Western New York in hazardous air, and by the morning of the event the Air Quality Index in Buffalo had reached 224 — a level classified as Very Unhealthy, especially dangerous for children, older adults, and anyone with a respiratory condition. We stayed committed as long as we safely could: Tops Friendly Markets provided 6,000 N95 masks for attendees, we cancelled the Wellness Village, and we moved up the event’s end time to limit time spent outdoors. But when Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, we made the call to pack up.

What happened next is what we’re proudest of. Unable to reschedule at MLK Jr. Park, our team and partners immediately pivoted to make sure every resource we’d gathered still reached the community it was meant for.

How We Kept Our Promise: Three Distribution Moments

At MLK Jr. Park, July 16th

Even as the air quality emergency forced us to close the event early, our team worked to get as much as possible into community members’ hands before safely clearing the park. Families already on-site received hot meals from BW’s BBQ and Mother Cluckers, fresh produce, ice cream treats from The Ice Cream Men Truck, bicycles, backpacks, and candy bags — everything we could distribute safely in the time we had.

FeedMore WNY Donation

What couldn’t be distributed at the park didn’t go to waste. We donated the remaining fresh produce and hot dogs directly to FeedMore WNY, ensuring every pound of food we’d gathered for the community still reached Buffalo families.

King Urban Life Center, July 31st

Two weeks later, Trusted Gives partnered with King Urban Life Center to make good on what the weather had cut short. Mother Cluckers returned to serve hot meals, POPularity brought their Dirty Soda Bar and Gourmet Popcorn, Tops Friendly Markets provided fresh produce for the center’s community dinner, and volunteers distributed bikes and backpacks to kids.

We’ve always shown up rain or shine. Now we’re planning for smoke, too — natural disasters and air quality emergencies are part of our contingency planning going forward, so our community always knows we’ll find a way to show up for them.

What We Accomplished (Despite the Circumstances):

  • 1,120+ Free Hot Meals Distributed (600 by BW’s BBQ and 400 by Mother Cluckers at the park; 120 by Mother Cluckers at King Urban Life Center)
  • 500 Hot Dogs & Rolls Donated to FeedMore WNY
  • 695 Ice Cream Treats Distributed
  • 10,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce Distributed (5,000 lbs at the park; 5,000 lbs donated to FeedMore WNY, plus additional produce provided by Tops for King Urban Life Center)
  • 100 Totes of Clothing Distributed via Buffalo City Mission, Felician Community Services, Compass House, and We R Buffalo Strong
  • 100 Free Bicycles Given Out (double last year’s total!) — each with a helmet and lock
  • 300 Backpacks Distributed (80 handed out in person by Hiller Comerford at King Urban Life Center; 220 donated to Buffalo Public Schools)
  • 1,000 Candy Bags Distributed to Kids
  • 6,000 N95 Masks Provided to Protect Attendees
  • 60+ Health, Wellness, and Human Service Organizations Registered and Ready to Serve

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

  • Dion’s Dreamers
  • Tops Friendly Markets
  • Renewal by Andersen
  • Highmark BCBS
  • Buffalo Sabres Foundation
  • New Era Cap Co.
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Gallagher
  • Hiller Comerford
  • West Herr
  • Voice Buffalo
  • Metro Community Development

Thank You to Our Food Vendors:

  • BW’s BBQ
  • Mother Cluckers
  • POPularity (Dirty Soda Bar & Gourmet Popcorn)
  • The Ice Cream Men Truck

Thank You to the 50 Confirmed Wellness Village Organizations Who Were Ready to Connect with Our Community:

While the Wellness Village couldn’t open its doors this year, these are the organizations that had officially RSVPed and prepared to serve East Buffalo alongside us. Many more local organizations were reached out to and would likely have joined had the event not been cut short — and we’re proud to keep spotlighting all of our community partners year-round through our Wellness Spotlight Series and CommUNITY Board:

  1. 5 Loaves Farm
  2. American Heart Association
  3. Assigned Counsel Program
  4. At Home Solutions
  5. Big Brothers & Sisters
  6. Bike Helmets from Kaleida
  7. Border Community SERVICE of Niagara University
  8. Buddy’s Second Chance
  9. Buffalo EOC (Educational Opportunity Center)
  10. Buffalo Hope
  11. Buffalo Museum of Science
  12. Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network
  13. Buffalo Schools Adult ED
  14. Buffalo SNUG
  15. Buffalo Street Trees
  16. Center of Elder Law & Justice
  17. City of Buffalo Animal Shelter
  18. Compass House
  19. Connect Life
  20. Erie County CAS (Community Access Services)
  21. Erie County Cancer Services
  22. Essential Solutions Medicare Center
  23. Family Justice Center
  24. FeedMore WNY
  25. Gerard Place
  26. Haircuts for Those in Need
  27. Highmark Medicaid
  28. Horizon Health Alliance
  29. Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo
  30. Jericho Road
  31. Justice League of WNY
  32. Kevin Guest House
  33. Mental Health Advocates
  34. National Fuel
  35. National Grid
  36. New Directions Youth & Family Services Inc.
  37. New York Caring Majority
  38. NFTA
  39. Open Buffalo
  40. Partnership for the Public Good
  41. Queen City Clean Waters Initiatives
  42. Sleep in Heavenly Peace
  43. St. Brian’s Clothier
  44. UB Health in Wheels
  45. UB Nursing
  46. VA Western New York Healthcare System
  47. Verizon Wireless
  48. We R Buffalo Strong
  49. WNY Law Center
  50. YMCA