Tops celebrates National Safe Place Week

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

A press release explained, “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 12-19 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 President, John Persons said, “Tops has been proud to be a Safe Place location for the past 16 years, creating a safety net for our youth during troubling times. 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.”

Safe Place Executive Director Lisa Freeman said, “We are proud to have Tops as one of our Safe Place partners. Their stores are a place kids can go and feel safe. Their employees make them feel comfortable while they wait for Compass House to get them. Thank you, Tops, for caring so much about the vulnerable youth in our community.”

Based in Williamsville, Tops Markets currently operates 149 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including five that are run by franchisees. For more information, visit www.topsmarkets.com.