Tops celebrates National Safe Place Week

Tops Friendly Markets Press Release

Tops is proud to celebrate National Safe Place Week, which is celebrated nationally during the third full week in March each year.

Since 2006, Tops has been proud to support the Safe Place Program in Erie County. This program is one that allows Tops Friendly Markets locations across our footprint to be a safe haven for those children ages 12-17 to access should they find themselves in need of help. Here, they can remain in a safe environment while crisis counseling and/or shelter is coordinated for them.

Thanks to Safe Place, immediate help is never too far away, providing immediate help, resources and support for our community’s youth who often feel they have no safe place to turn. Safe Place designates sites like Tops along with schools, libraries, fire stations and other youth-friendly locations, as Safe Place sites, which can easily be identified with a bright yellow and black sign on the stores exterior.

“Tops has been proud to be a Safe Place location for the past 17 years, creating a safety net for our youth during troubling times,” Tops President Ron Ferri said. “We want to ensure that the youth of our community know that they will never be turned away when coming to Tops if they need help.”

Compass House Executive Director Lisa Freeman said, “Compass House is profoundly thankful for Tops Friendly Markets. Tops is a safe place for youth to go when they are in need. They are treated with respect and compassion while Compass House arranges for the youth to be transported to our shelter. We could not do this without the help of the wonderful Tops employees. This organization really cares about the people in our community, especially the vulnerable youth. Thank you, Tops Friendly Markets, for your 17 years of support!

Based in Williamsville, Tops Markets currently operates 148 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including five that are run by franchisees. For more information, visit www.topsmarkets.com.