Local businesses collecting donations for NY correction officers

ORCHARD PARK N.Y. (WIVB) — Several businesses in the Southtowns are rallying around correction officers following a strike that impacted over 20 New York State prisons over three days.

“They’re scared, they’re frustrated, they’re exhausted,” said Bernadette Singer, whose husband was on strike at the Collins Correctional Facility.

Singer said it’s been a stressful time.

“It is exhausting but it’s necessary, change is necessary,” she said. “They can’t keep going on like this. Their backs are against the wall.”

Singer is the operations manager at Prohibition 2020, a restaurant and bar located on Abbott road in Orchard Park. She wanted to do her part to help her husband and other officers. Singer gathered together with other wives of COs to start a donation drive.

“I see the turmoil that he goes through everyday and I have tons of friends who are correction officers and as a wife it was important for me to step up,” Singer said.

People can drop off food, water and warm clothing at the restaurant during its hours of operation.

“Just to give other people an opportunity to donate, if they’re not able to make it out to the jails,” she said. “We have people coming in, picking them up taking them to different jails.”

Suites on Main, located at 221 Main Street in East Aurora, is another business collecting donations. People can drop off non-perishable food, bottled water, chairs, hand-warmers, blankets, and personal care items 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Being a trusted business owner, I’m also a military wife so this kind of hits home for me, it’s just really important,” said owner Kasey Labrie. “They should feel supported in every way possible and this is a small way we can make sure we do that.”

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Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

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