Help Stop A Growing Problem

National Prescription Drug Drop Off Day- No Questions Asked

Prescription pill abuse is the number one drug problem in Western New York.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has labeled prescription drug abuse a "national epidemic."

Now, there's a way for you to help.  

In conjunction with Kids Escaping Drugs and multiple other sponsors, there will be a Prescription Drug Drop Off day on April 30th around Western New York and the nation.  

"We urge everyone to check your medicine cabinet today, and drop off on April 30th," said a Kids Escaping Drugs representative.  "Help keep unneeded, unwanted medications out our children's hands."

The key to the even is that there are no questions asked.  Once the prescription drugs are dropped off, that's it.  Literally no questions asked.  

The drug drop off accepts all prescription and over-the-counter medications 

There are drop off locations across every county in Western New York.  For a full list of locations, visit the dropoff's website. 

Help spread the word and let's take this problem down.  Remember, National Prescription Drug Drop Off Day- April 30th.  

Found Money Benefits Charity

Parking Lot Discovery Leads to Surprise Charitable Donation

JakeThe used car lot at West Herr Toyota at Williamsville Bednarz, 21, has been a lot attendant for West Herr Chevy in Hamburg for two years.  Last month, the Derby, NY native was making a routine car delivery to West Herr Toyota in Williamsville when he came across cash laying in the Used Car parking lot. 

"I knew I was going to turn the money in right away, it wasnt even a thought in my mind," Bednarz said. "I guess it's just the way I was raised." 

Bednarz turned the money into Joe Manganaro, used car manager at West Herr Toyota. The money was held at the store for a month but went unclaimed. 

Afterwards,  it was decided the money would be donated to a charity of Bednarz's choice. He chose the Kids Escaping Drugs charity.

West Herr will be matching the amount and giving the donation in Bednarz's name. 

"Thats great to see, and its not something that happens a lot in this day in age," said Bill Loecher, West Herr Vice President.

Thank you to Jake Bednarz for his honesty.  For more information or to make a donation to Kids Escaping Drugs, visit them online today. 

It time to help Kids Escaping Drugs, Telethon

23^rd Annual Kids Escaping Drugs Telethon

Saturday March 6, 2010 6:00-11:30 pm

By Stacy Roeder (Director of Media & Community Relations for Kids Escaping Drugs)

The 23^rd annual Kids Escaping Drugs Telethon will be broadcast live from the Renaissance Campus in West Seneca on Saturday, March 6. WGRZ-TV Channel 2 On Your Side will host the broadcast. The Kids Escaping Drug Campaign supports the Renaissance Campus as well as drug and alcohol education and awareness programs. The Campus operates as Western New York’s only long-term residential rehabilitation center for teens and young adults ages 12 through 20. The Campus consists of 62 in-patient beds and offers educational, voc-ed and art therapy programming in addition to addiction and counseling services.

Video from last years Telethon:

Kids Escaping Drugs Executive Director JoAnne A. Hudecki says the campaign supports the non-medical programming in addition to Face 2 Face; a new educational outreach program being utilized by school districts throughout Western New York. Last year the telethon raised over $700,000 dollars and Hudecki is optimistic the community will once again respond to the needs of our children and families. “Western New Yorker’s built this campus through their donations nearly 20 years ago. Each and every year they continue to amaze us with their understanding of what we are trying to accomplish and their continued generous support. Drug and alcohol addiction touches every family in our community and unfortunately more and more of our young people are falling victim to the disease. The telethon serves not only as an important fundraiser for treatment and education; but provides valuable information for families both hoping to prevent their children from making bad choices and for those families seeking help for loved ones.”

Donors to the telethon will be eligible to receive many incentives including thousands of dollars in dining and event gift certificates donated by local businesses; Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres autographed sports memorabilia and much more.

Sponsors of the 2010 Kids Escaping Drugs Telethon include WGRZ-TV; WJYE-FM; COCA COLA BUFFALO; VALU HOME CENTERS; UPS; WEST HERR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP; JEEP DEALERS OF WESTERN NEW YORK; ROSA’S HOME STORES; WEGMANS; BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF WNY; PARKVIEW HEALTH SERVICES; RONCO AND VERIZON WIRELESS.

Volunteers continue to be backbone of Gus Macker

Volunteer's make the food at the Buffalo Gus MackerMany of the volunteers for this Buffalo Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament were first people on the streets of Buffalo on Thursday and will be the last ones to leave Sunday. The estimated 4,500 players and thousands of spectators likely have no idea who set up the baskets, taped the courts, handled their registration, measured the players or picked up trash on the streets of Buffalo. The won't know that Buffalo Gus Macker is one of only a few that pays for board certified referees, and will never know the level of security the Buffalo Police provide to keep us all safe. The Food is cooked by volunteers, the drinks are poured by volunteers, and even the score keepers are volunteers.

While the players play, the volunteers make it happenThe headlines will read "Buffalo Gus Maker a success" , but its the volunteers who are the tournament's backbone will go unmentioned. So if your a player, or an attendee and see someone wearing a Green Volunteer shirt or a orange score-keeper shirt, thank them. Because without them a Buffalo masterpiece event would never happen.

The goal at the tournament is to raise $100,000 Kids Escaping Drugs and The Police Athletic League. So buy some hot dogs and help a great cause.

Update on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 11:36AM by Kevin Leigh (West Herr)

Stacy Roeder of Kids Escaping Drugs, estimates that there are over 700 volunteers this year. All I have to say is WOW.....

Update on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 10:33PM by Kevin Leigh (West Herr)

Buffalo Gus Macker, is the largest one in the country again. 40 more teams than last year.

Upcoming WNY Events

Upcoming WNY Community Events

As summer quickly approaches the three Community Organizations that West Herr and many of you have so generously supported over the last several years will be holding their major fundraising events of the year. All three of these organizations provide an invaluable service to our community that we cannot afford to lose. They are again this year hoping for our support, below is a brief description of each of the organizations upcoming events.

 

Hospice Walk.....Sunday, May 17th

The walk begins at 11AM, this year we will be meeting at the all new Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf (near HSBC Arena and the Naval Park) at around 10-10:30, look for the West Herr tent. We take a short walk through downtown Buffalo which usually takes about 30 minutes to complete and is followed by lunch. Each of your stores has a walk captain that can help you with registration and provide you with additional information. If you don’t know who your stores walk captain is just see your GM and they will be able to help you. West Herr has for the last three years been the #1 fundraiser for this event and we’re looking to keep that streak alive!

Ride for Roswell.....Saturday, June 27th

We will again be manning one of the many support stations along the route for the Ride. This is a morning event and we are usually done by noon. We prepare and distribute drinks, fruit and sandwiches to the riders as they pass our location.

Gus Macker.....Wednesday, June 24th –Sunday, June 28th

This is a 3 on 3 basketball tournament which takes place downtown in front of City Hall. This is an event that relies heavily on West Herr’s support from a people perspective. With over 1000 teams participating in the Event it requires over 500 volunteers to be successful. As in years past your GM’s will have a signup sheet in their office in early May with all the times and jobs listed.

We would like to Thank you all in advance for any help you might be able to provide any or all of these great organizations. Your continued support makes a tremendous difference in ensuring the success of each of these events!

Scott, Brad, John & Bill

Update on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 5:25PM by Kevin Leigh (West Herr)

West Herr's Hospice Memorial Walk Team PhotoThank you for supporting the 2009 Hospice Memorial Walk! The Walk was held on Sunday, May 17 at the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf and with the help from our Walkers, Teams and Sponsors, the Walk raised over $225,000 for Hospice services in Erie County.

Please check our site in January 2010 for updated information and online fundraising tools fornext year's Walk.

Save the date ~ 14th Annual Hospice Memorial Walk ~ Sunday, May 23, 2010!

West Herr and the Kids Escaping Drugs Telethon

With the help of a team of West Herr Volenteers, the 2009 Kids Escaping Drugs Telethon was a success.

Here is a video of the West Herr presentation, click here

KEDS is such a good cause. Since 1986, Kids Escaping Drugs (KED) has been raising money to build adolescent treatment facilities for families throughout Western New York. Before that time, no facilities existed locally for this age group. Young people had to be treated in an adult setting, be sent to facilities out of town or worse get no treatment. In October 1990, Renaissance House was opened.

Today the Renaissance Campus has expanded to a 62-bed residential treatment program offering a continuum of care for chemically dependent adolescents. The Campus consists of three treatment facilities: Renaissance House, Stepping Stones and Promise House, as well as the Rosa's Resource Center, home to the Kids Escaping Drugs Campaign. Renaissance House is a 30 bed in-patient facility for boys ages 12-17; Stepping Stones is a 16 bed facility for girls ages 12-21, which combines in-patient and halfway programs; Promise House is a 16 bed halfway house for boys ages 18-21. The Campus’ average age is 15 years old, but we can accept teens from 12 to 21 years of age.

The facilities offer a safe and supportive environment where adolescents can recover, learn responsibility and re-enter the community with the tools to live a drug-free lifestyle. Renaissance Campus is growing and so are adolescent drug and alcohol problems.

In addition, the Kids Escaping Drugs Campaign has been offering prevention and outreach to the WNY community since 1996 through various programs: Peer Awareness, Face to Face, Vocational Outreach Program and Art Therapy.

If you have a child in crisis or would like to speak to someone on the campus, please call (716) 821-0391.