CHOOSE LOVE
By Darren Zidel of Fully Promoted Boca Raton
On a Saturday afternoon in May, unspeakable tragedy struck Buffalo, NY.
In less than 10 minutes, in a racially motivated attack, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire on shoppers at a Tops Friendly supermarket on the city’s East Side, in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
By the end, 10 people were dead, all of them Black, and three injured.
On Wednesday, May 18, more than 100 players and staff members from the Buffalo Bills football team, Sabres hockey team and Bandits lacrosse team converged at the site of the shooting to deliver meals and engage with community members.
While there, volunteers wore black T-shirts with “Choose Love”
That same day, members of the public began to reach out to the teams on social media, expressing appreciation for their volunteer efforts and asking if the “Choose Love” shirts were for sale.
This resulted in $1 million being donated to two community organizations less than two weeks after the apparel became available for purchase.
A simple t-shirt has the power to unite a community, raise awareness and provide a voice for hope and reform.
