CLEVELAND — Greg Schwert, a Buffalo native living in Ohio, jumped into action after hearing about the mass shooting at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo.

What You Need To Know

  • A lone gunman opened fire at a Tops grocery store on May 14, killing 10 people
  • The grocery store remains closed while the investigation of the shooting continues

  • The Tops grocery store was the only one in the neighborhood which has caused a food desert

  • Greg Schwert, with the help of friends and family, has made six trips to Buffalo from Ohio to provide food and supplies

Schwert loaded up his car for the sixth time. He said he’s preparing to take a three-and-a-half hour drive to Buffalo, New York. It's a place he said is very close to his heart. 

“I grew up there—grew up in Williams, also Williamsville South,” Schwert said. 

He now calls Cleveland his home but said he doesn’t mind the drive to the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, where 10 Black people were shot and killed May 14. 

“If he can go there to cause mayhem, then I can go three-and-a-half hours to provide some support,” Schwert said.

Providing support is exactly what Schwert has been doing. Bunny ears, stuffed animals and all sorts of food are just some of the items he’s brought to Buffalo.

“One-hundred and twenty jars of peanut butter because they were saying they needed more protein stuff, tons of cans of fruits and vegetables—primarily vegetables,” he said. 

It’s been nearly two months since the shooting. While investigations continue, the grocery store remains closed, forcing a food desert in the neighborhood. 

He said he couldn’t make these trips without help. He said he received donations from the Cleveland Bills Backers and friends and family. Schwerts said he donated many items to the food pantry to fill a need, and also provided compassion. 

“The you know, the hugs were definitely well-received. You know, this is especially, you know, the first couple of times up because everybody was grieving,” he said. 

“In fact, my first time up, you know, I actually broke down and was crying and, you know, it was another guy holding me up on it because it's just so sad that somebody would do something so stupid,” explained Schwert.  

In total, Schwert and his team have donated more than two tons of food and supplies. He said he's not done and plans to take two more trips back to Buffalo to deliver supplies and then a last trip to stand arm-in-arm with the community when the Tops grocery store reopens. 

“We need to stay together and not let things get a bit more separated going forward,” Schwert said.