Gift of Warmth Drive Reaches Halfway Point, Helping Buffalo Residents Stay Cozy this Winter

The Gift of Warmth campaign, a partnership between M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets, continues to collect winter essentials for Buffalo’s most vulnerable residents.

As the winter weather persists, M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets’ Gift of Warmth campaign has reached its halfway mark. The campaign, which first kicked off in November, continues throughout the Buffalo-Rochester region and will conclude on Friday, January 3.

In its 39th year, the Gift of Warmth campaign invites the community to join M&T and Tops in donating new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves — which are then distributed by The Salvation Army to local families and individuals who are experiencing housing instability or other difficult circumstances.

As the region’s longest-running winter clothing collection drive, the Gift of Warmth builds on the local impact that M&T and Tops have made in partnership with The Salvation Army over many years. In October, M&T Bank committed $250,000 in charitable funding to support The Salvation Army’s Hope on Main emergency shelter project, which will serve as a lifeline for families in need. Meanwhile, Tops has partnered with The Salvation Army for decades, encouraging local generosity through the annual Red Kettle holiday campaign, which raised over $1 million last year.

WHEN: Now through Friday, January 3

WHERE: All M&T Bank branches and select Tops Stores across region

WHO: In-studio or virtual interviews available with:

Eric Feldstein, M&T Bank Western New York Regional President
Kathy Sautter, Tops Friendly Markets Director of Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Laurie Krajna, The Salvation Army Director of Development for Buffalo Area Services

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Last year, M&T Bank expanded the Gift of Warmth drive by partnering with Tops Friendly Markets. Working together, the two community-focused companies grew the campaign to serve counties across the greater Western New York region, stretching from Buffalo to Rochester. As a result, the Gift of Warmth set a record for total donations, collecting more than 4,600 winter clothing items than in 2023.

The Gift of Warmth was created in 1985 when a small group of M&T Bank employees in Buffalo came together to encourage their colleagues to donate winter weather gear to The Salvation Army. As the years went on, this small group effort transformed into a community-wide campaign and has since collected over 46,100 winter clothing items — all distributed by The Salvation Army to local families, children, and individuals.

The drive accepts donations of new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves. Donations can be made at 84 M&T and 53 Tops Stores across Western New York and Rochester. Gift of Warmth donation boxes can be found inside the front vestibules of select Tops Stores and in M&T branch lobbies. To find the nearest M&T branch or Tops Store, visit locations.mtb.com or topsmarkets.com/storelocator.

PARTNER QUOTES:

“During this year’s Gift of Warmth campaign, M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets will collaborate to inspire our always-generous community to join us in supporting our neighbors who are facing hardships. We encourage our employees, customers, and communities to get involved — especially with the growing need here in Western New York,” said Eric Feldstein, M&T Bank Western New York Regional President. “When we first partnered with Tops for the Gift of Warmth campaign, we successfully expanded our impact — and this year, we’re hoping to keep building and help thousands more Western New Yorkers. Through the simple act of donating hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves, we can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

“During the winter months, hardship tends to intensify for people without safe shelter and families struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to us as a community to help disrupt those moments of hardship by offering hope and a helping hand,” said Ron Ferri, Tops Friendly Markets President. “With the Gift of Warmth drive, Tops Friendly Markets and M&T Bank will help ensure The Salvation Army has the cold weather supplies they need to help people during times of urgent need. We’re grateful to our associates and customers for all the ways they generously support our community through the Gift of Warmth, the Red Kettle holiday campaign, and other local programs.”

“The annual Gift of Warmth drive serves as the largest source of new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves that The Salvation Army receives to help Western New Yorkers in need. It’s essential to our local efforts to help the people we serve stay warm and endure Buffalo’s tough winters,” said Laurie Krajna, The Salvation Army Director of Development for Buffalo Area Services. “On behalf of all the children, families, and individuals who receive winter clothing through the Gift of Warmth, I want to express my deep gratitude to M&T Bank, Tops Friendly Markets, and everyone who makes a donation during this important local campaign.”