M&T Bank, Tops Friendly Markets announce of 'Gift of Warmth' drive for families served by Salvation Army

‘Gift of Warmth’ gathers donations of new hats, gloves, scarves & mittens at Tops, M&T locations

Press Release

With winter on its way, M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets are again teaming up to help their neighbors stay warm during the harsh weather ahead. The two locally based companies announced the return of the “Gift of Warmth” campaign on Friday at the Tops location on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Now in its 39th year, the “Gift of Warmth” campaign invites the community to join M&T and Tops in donating new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves – which are then distributed by The Salvation Army to families and individuals who are experiencing housing instability or other difficult circumstances.

From Friday, Nov. 15, through Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, “Gift of Warmth” donations can be dropped off in the collection bins at all M&T Bank and select Tops locations across the greater Buffalo-Rochester region. All donations will remain in the region where they are collected, meaning all items donated in Buffalo will help people The Salvation Army serves in Western New York.

As the region’s longest-running winter clothing collection drive, the “Gift of Warmth” builds on the local impact that M&T Bank and Tops have made in partnership with The Salvation Army over many years. Last month, M&T Bank committed $250,000 in charitable funding to support The Salvation Army’s “Hope on Main” emergency shelter project, which will serve as a lifeline for families in need. Meanwhile, Tops has partnered with The Salvation Army for decades, encouraging local generosity through the annual “Red Kettle” holiday campaign, which raised over $1 million last year. 

Last year, M&T Bank expanded the “Gift of Warmth” drive by partnering with Tops Friendly Markets. Working together, the two community-focused companies grew the campaign to serve counties across the greater Western New York Region, stretching from Buffalo to Rochester. As a result, the “Gift of Warmth” set a record for total donations, collecting over 4,600 winter clothing items.

The “Gift of Warmth” was created in 1985 when a small group of M&T Bank employees in Buffalo came together to encourage their colleagues to donate winter weather gear to The Salvation Army. As the years went on, this small group effort transformed into a communitywide campaign and has since collected over 46,100 winter clothing items – all distributed by The Salvation Army to local families, children and individuals.

The drive accepts donations of new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. Donations can be made at 84 M&T and 53 Tops locations across Western New York and Rochester. “Gift of Warmth” donation boxes can be found inside Tops’ front vestibules and in M&T branch lobbies. To find the nearest M&T branch or Tops store location, visit locations.mtb.com or topsmarkets.com/storelocator.

“During this year’s ‘Gift of Warmth’ campaign, M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets will collaborate to inspire our always-generous community to join us in supporting our neighbors who are facing hardships. We encourage our employees, customers, and communities to get involved – especially with the growing need here in Western New York,” said Eric Feldstein, M&T Bank Western New York regional president. “When we first partnered with Tops for the ‘Gift of Warmth’ campaign, we successfully expanded our impact – and this year, we’re hoping to keep building and help thousands more Western New Yorkers. Through the simple act of donating hats, gloves, mittens and scarves, we can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

Tops Friendly Markets President Ron Ferri said, “During the winter months, hardship tends to intensify for people without safe shelter, and families struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to us as a community to help disrupt those moments of hardship by offering hope and a helping hand. With the ‘Gift of Warmth’ drive, Tops Friendly Markets and M&T Bank will help ensure The Salvation Army has the cold weather supplies they need to help people during times of urgent need. We’re grateful to our associates and customers for all the ways they generously support our community through the ‘Gift of Warmth,’ the ‘Red Kettle’ holiday campaign, and other local programs.”

The Salvation Army Director of Development for Buffalo Area Services Laurie Krajna said, “The annual ‘Gift of Warmth’ drive serves as the largest source of new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves that The Salvation Army receives to help Western New Yorkers in need. It’s essential to our local efforts to help the people we serve stay warm and endure Buffalo’s tough winters. On behalf of all the children, families and individuals who receive winter clothing through the ‘Gift of Warmth,’ I want to express my deep gratitude to M&T Bank, Tops Friendly Markets, and everyone who makes a donation during this important local campaign.”