'This is our community' | Pegulas join Sabres, Bills alumni on East Side

Buffalo stayed true to its moniker as the "City of Good Neighbors" Thursday afternoon when the Sabres organization made another effort to give back to the community following Saturday's racist mass shooting at Tops on Jefferson Ave.
Owners Terry and Kim Pegula volunteered on the East Side along with Sabres longtime play-by-play broadcaster Rick Jeanneret and alumni Rob Ray, Marty Biron, and Pat Kaleta.
"I was sitting in Florida when the shooting happened, and I had tears in my eyes," Terry Pegula said. "But, to be here today and to see how we've started down the path of recovery by being with one another makes me so proud of Buffalo for their reaction to this horrific tragedy."

Members of the Sabres organization were also joined by nearly a dozen Buffalo Bills Legends, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, and Thurman Thomas. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, a Jamestown native, was also in attendance.
The Pegulas and the group of former players paid their respects to the 10 victims at the memorial site outside the supermarket on Jefferson Ave.
"It's about love and how we move forward," Kim Pegula said.
The dreary, somber day in downtown Buffalo quickly turned into bright blue skies as the group started to interact with residents of the East Side community.
"It was a very humbling experience talking to people on site that live on the East Side," Kaleta, a Buffalo native, said.
Kaleta added that after he heard what happened in his hometown, it was instinctively in his DNA to want to go out and help.
"You can't feel what they are feeling, but you do your best to help them and show how you're there to help," he said. "That's what I'm here to do."
Faces of individuals that showed sadness and grief switched to happy smiles after being joined by the Bills and Sabres alumni.
"Being out here is what it's all about," Biron said.
Biron, a Quebec native, calls Buffalo home. The former Sabres goaltender has lived in the area full-time since 1997, even after playing for other teams before his retirement in 2013.
"Our people right here in downtown Buffalo have friends, family, cousins, brothers, sisters that were affected, not just by the terrible shooting that happened, but also are dealing with loss in their community," he said.

The group led by the Pegulas traveled two blocks away on East Ferry Street to volunteer by handing out food and other necessities to families at the Resource Council of WNY.
What stood out to Biron and Kaleta throughout all of their interactions was a conversation with one woman who lost her cousin in the shooting. It was the first time since Saturday that she felt comfortable submerging herself in the healing process, and she was glad to come out and get a better sense of how much the community was there to support her.
Even with big tears in her eyes mourning the loss of her loved one, she also had a big smile by feeling the love and support from her Buffalo family.
"We can't change what happened, but I know myself and all of these professional athletes along with community leaders will do whatever it takes to help people get through this hard time," Kaleta said.
Throughout the event, the Pegulas assured that the Bills and Sabres' efforts to help the East Side are not just a trend, but instead a long-term relationship in which they will continue to be an asset.
"I had a lot of conversations with some of the residents here in the community a few minutes ago about what happens when the cameras leave and what happens when it's not the top news story," Kim Pegula said.
"We want to listen to them and understand what their true needs are to create sustainability… I know as an organization we're going to listen and have discussions with community leaders, our internal staff, and players to better understand and create something that truly lasts."
The new slogan that has been embraced by the Sabres and Bills, "Choose Love," continues to gain traction as the tight-knit Buffalo community continues to rally around one another following Saturday's racist attack.