716 group helps make unemployed hirable

By Kelly Khatib and Michael Kelly

Bengal  News West Reporters

In the fall of 2015, Zakiyyah Wolford welcomed her second child. For most people this is a joyous occasion. For Wolford however, a struggling single mother, it was clouded with a veil of uncertainty as she found herself unable to continue working.

“I was a dietary aide at Erie County Medical Center working overnights and they wouldn’t accommodate me on changing my shift,” Wolford said. “I asked them a lot but they kept telling me there was nothing they could do. I just had a brand-new baby and there was no one to watch him.”

For the next three years she found herself unemployed.

Wolford’s story is not uncommon. She and others like her are searching for jobs when many employers simply aren't hiring. According to the State Labor Department, Buffalo’s unemployment rate was at 4.9 percent this September. When jobs are available, competition is high and it's important to separate yourself from the next candidate.

716 Ministries, 301 14th St., is hoping to make that process a little easier with its Work

Readiness program. The program consists of four weeks of intensive classes covering many topics such as time management to how to deal with customers.

“We cover team work, attitude, and a lot of really practical things,” said Stephanie Bruno, one of the Work Readiness coordinators at 716 Ministries. “Many times, the people who come into our program will have a GED or high school diploma, but no further training. So, it’s difficult to find a job that pays more than $10 an hour. We’re trying to provide them with a higher skill set that can lead to a higher paying job.”

The program runs every other month with classes limited to 10 people. Many students come from the Goodwill and Salvation Army. Christina Schweitzer, Salvation Army director says that the Erie County Department of Social Services refers people on public assistance to do volunteer hours at the charities during their search for a permanent job. It was through the Welfare-to-Work program that Zakiyyah Wolford learned about the Work Readiness program.

“They came to the Goodwill where I was assigned to do work and it seemed like it would be fun,” Wolford said. “They took me on interviews and showed me how to present a better resume. The finance training for me was really helpful because I’m bad with money.”

Bruno says this hands-on approach is what makes the program so successful.

“The thing that really sets us apart is that we have one on one mentors for our students,” Bruno said. “Over 70 percent of our graduates are working and I believe it’s because we create a relationship time because they believe in it and they see that lives are being impacted by this.”

Since graduating from the program in March, Wolford keeps in contact with her mentor to talk about the career progress she’s made.

“They were willing to help me in any way. Even now we keep in touch, I talked to my mentor the other day and we plan to get together and do lunch,” Wolford said.

Wolford now has a full-time job at Home Depot. She says she owes it to the skills she learned at Work Readiness. She hopes to see the program grow even bigger in the future.

 “If anyone out there needs a little extra push they should sign up for this program,” Wolford said. “Keep an open mind and just give it a chance because it could change your life. It changed my life for the better.”

716 Ministries will be holding its next phase of job training through the Work Readiness program in January.

Bazaar gives shoppers worldwide choices

The West Side Bazaar, 25 Grant St., is welcoming everyone to come do their holiday shopping there, where there are a variety of unique items from which to choose. The shop features many vendors from all over the world selling anything from handmade hanging baskets, to authentic cuisine from whatever country they are from. Gysma Kueny, pictured, is a vendor at the West Side Bazaar who is from South Sudan. Kueny is a firm believer in people shopping for their gifts at places like the West Side Bazaar instead of going to a chain store that is in the mall. “Our stuff comes from all over the world,” Kueny said. “You can come find stuff at the West Side Bazaar from different countries.” Kueny believes that this could be a good alternative for people who want authentic items from all over the world, but cannot afford to go to the country to get them. Nadin Yousef, a vendor from Iraq also believes that it would be beneficial for customers to shop at the West Side Bazaar instead of a larger corporation. “When they shop here they support the small business,” Yousef said. “Here they don’t need to go to many places. If you want something from India, it’s here. Africa, it’s here. Iraq, it’s here.” Many of Yousef’s products are handmade, and she offers classes to teach people how to make macramé. Macramé uses a variety of material, and she teaches you how to make plant hangers, jewelry, and wall hangings from the materials given to you. The West Side Bazaar is open 11a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. By Alyssa Brannigan and Taylor Carruth

Local art featured in month-long exhibit

Donald J. Siuta, director of the Artist Group Gallery, is hosting an exhibit of work by members of the Western New York Artists Group at the gallery, One Linwood Ave. The exhibit, Masterworks and Artful Gifts, is scheduled to run until Dec. 29. The exhibit is just one of the activities of the artists group, which also conducts art workshops and lectures for artists and art collectors and the general public. The emphasis is on local, Siuta says. ““The WNYAG is the only art space that is strictly dedicated to local artists.”  By Ashley Steele and Nazee Wright

Allen Street decoration-less this season

Holiday decorations are adorning much of the West Side, except for one prominent street.

Holiday lights will not be hung on Allen Street this year, according to Allentown Association President Seth Amman.

“We sustained some loss when our building’s ceiling collapsed,” Amman said.

Amman is referring to the Allentown Association’s previous office building located at 14 Allen St. The building’s roof collapse brought damage to the organization’s holiday decorations that are usually hung up on Allen Street.

The association was without a home for over a year after the roof collapsed in July 2015. Finding new office space and getting the association up and running took precedence over the decorations.

         “The Association bought a new building for an office, but have not gotten to replacing Christmas decorations yet,” Amman said.

Amman said that with the upcoming restructure of Allen Street and its changing face, that the association will hold off to put up decorations.

“With Allen Street being reconstructed, we thought it best to wait so everything can be better coordinated for hanging and lighting,” Amman said.

The new Allentown Association offices are located at 61 College St. Renovations to the new building are still in progress, but for at least this year, holiday decorations will have to wait in the Allentown district. By Kelly Khatib and Michael Kelly

Roller derby team, tat parlor plan market

A roller derby team from Buffalo and a West Side tattoo parlor are teaming up to bring shoppers a unique experience during the holiday season.

Sip and Shop, a holiday market and basket raffle hosted by the Nickel City Renegade Rollergirls and 125 Art Collective Tattoo Studio, from noon to 8 p.m., Dec. 16 at the studio 125 Elmwood Ave.

The market has 14 arts and crafts vendors signed up, including the webzine Qween City, selling t-shirts, the Brick Chick, selling garden stones and muralist Vinny Alejandro of Urban Inspirations who will sell art prints.

A basket raffle will be held at the event with baskets made by local businesses and the roller derby team. Half of the donations will go to the team for traveling costs and another half will go to charity.

Amy “Psyko Kupkake” Hawkins, founder and head coach for the Rollergirls and co-owner of the studio with her husband, Ted, said the event was made to promote area artists. 

“We want to promote local art and encourage local people to sell their stuff,” Hawkins said. “I think that a lot of local artists don’t get that opportunity. We invited a bunch of vendors from across Buffalo and they’re welcome to bring whatever they sell.” By Jacob Fyock and Chris Prenatt

Boxes of Love aim to please thousands

For the past 19 years, Pastor Eric Johns of the Buffalo Dream Center, 286 Lafayette Ave., has been leading the charge in spreading holiday good will. Boxes of Love, a box of donations filled with food and gifts for local families, started when Pastor Johns and his wife, Michelle, realized that many of the families at the center couldn't afford gifts for Christmas. At its beginning, Boxes of Love raised enough money to help out 200 kids, but since then, it has grown into something that Johns said he could have never envisioned. Last year, the Johns helped nearly 3,000 families with food and gave Christmas gifts to 5,000 children.To be able to help out that many people takes a lot of time, volunteers and donations. Pastor Johns said that, last year alone, 80 businesses and organizations and about 1,000  volunteers donated their time to help the center make Boxes of Love possible. “We work really hard for a month wrapping the gifts, packing the food and sometimes it’s a lot of work and you get weary, but it’s all worth it when you’re at that distribution center and that little kid gets exactly what they wanted,” Johns said. “Moms come to me crying saying if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be able to do this and that brings us a lot of joy.” By Kelly Khatib and Michael Read

Salvation Army’s red kettles in full swing

The Salvation Army of Buffalo began its Red Kettle season is in full swing.  

The Salvation Army has 75 red kettle locations around the city including the Tops Friendly Markets at 425 Niagara St and 345 Amherst St.

Manager of Tops Friendly Markets at 425 Niagara Street, John Spiess, is excited to hold the red kettle at his store again this year.

“We are very community minded at our location,” said Spiess. “The community is very supportive of it and they participate very much because they like seeing the red kettle bell ringers around during the holiday season.”

Demi Walsh, the volunteer and Red Kettle coordinator for the Salvation Army of Buffalo, helps pair volunteers with suitable shifts and locations

“The funds raised from a two-hour bell ringing shift can feed a family of four for a week. Every penny counts,” said Walsh.

The funds raised during the campaign go to 15 of the Salvation Army’s year-round community programs as well as holiday gifts for people in the community in need of housing, food and clothing assistance.

The Salvation Army is still looking for volunteers who can work a minimum 2-hour shift which can be done individually, as a group or even with a family.

People who are interested in volunteering should contact Demi Walsh at (716) 888-6220 or Demaree.Walsh@use.salvationarmy.org, for more information. By Tatiyana Bellamy