Buffalo defender continues tradition, serves Thanksgiving meals to East Coast families

On November 29, 2024By Karl

BUFFALO, NY — The Thanksgiving tradition continued this year for Mark Talley and his Advocacy Representatives program.

Since the Tops mass shooting, Talley founded the Agents for Advocacy program in honor of his mother, Geraldine, who tragically died in that shooting. The program gives back to the Buffalo community, and this is one of the ways it gives back.

This is the second year of Talley’s annual Thanksgiving giveaway. Advocacy Representatives distributed more than 100 meals to people who needed some relief this holiday.

Talley said this effort means a lot to him. She worked with another local organization, Open Buffalo, spending weeks preparing the food and assembling the staff to put on a successful event.

“Most people hate the holidays if they don’t have family,” Talley said. “If they know they can’t afford anything, they don’t want to hear or see people talking or arguing about it. “So knowing that I’m helping people in the area who really need it and seeing them cry sometimes not knowing where to get their food, it’s definitely a really rewarding feeling.”

“You see a lot of organizations doing things around the holidays, but being dedicated and committed to people during the holidays is another thing,” said Devon Patterson of Open Buffalo. “That’s all it is; trying to repay the community by giving them a hot meal one by one.”

Volunteers from Advocacy Representatives, community members and several members of the University at Buffalo football team assisted with the event.

Talley plans to continue contributing to the Buffalo community in other ways. It also works to provide grants and scholarships to children in Buffalo and Western New York.

Giving doesn’t end with Thanksgiving, either. Talley said he plans to give gifts to children in Buffalo for Christmas later this holiday season.

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