M&T and Tops Launch 2026 Gift of Warmth Drive
Community members can donate new winter clothing at participating M&T Bank and Tops locations through January 8, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy
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M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets will launch the 2026 Gift of Warmth campaign on Monday, November 16, at 11 a.m. at The Salvation Army's Emergency Family Shelter at 954 Main Street in Buffalo. Donations of new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves will be accepted through January 8, 2027.
Why it matters
The drive collects winter clothing for local families and individuals facing cold weather in Buffalo. Because every donation stays within the region where it was collected, residents of the Buffalo area directly benefit from their contributions.
The campaign runs 82 M&T branches and 54 Tops locations, with 4,390 items donated in 2025 and more than 55,000 winter items collected since 1985. M&T contributed $250,000 toward The Salvation Army's Emergency Family Shelter, while Tops-supported Red Kettle efforts have raised more than $1 million.
The players
M&T Bank
M&T Bank is a regional bank headquartered in Buffalo, New York, that has sponsored the Gift of Warmth campaign since its employee-led start in 1985.
Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Friendly Markets is a supermarket chain based in Western New York that has participated in community giving programs in the region since joining the campaign in 2023.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian charitable organization that distributes donated goods and runs the Emergency Family Shelter on Main Street in Buffalo.
The details
The campaign began in 1985 as an employee-led effort at M&T Bank and Tops joined in 2023. Community members donate new winter clothing at participating locations in Buffalo and Rochester, and items are distributed through The Salvation Army to local families and individuals.
Timeline
1985: The Gift of Warmth campaign began as an employee-led effort at M&T Bank.
2023: Tops Friendly Markets joined the campaign.
November 16, 2026: The campaign kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Salvation Army shelter, and donations begin.
January 8, 2027: The donation period ends.
Season of Giving
Tops has supported The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign, which has raised more than $1 million, and the Gift of Warmth extends that seasonal giving model to winter clothing. The campaign's 41-year run since 1985 places it among long-standing corporate-community winter drives in the Buffalo region.
Residents can drop off new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves at any participating M&T Bank or Tops location through January 8, 2027. Because items stay in the region where they are collected, donations go directly to Buffalo and Rochester families facing winter weather.
The takeaway
Small winter contributions made at local branches and stores can reach neighbors within the same region. Dropping off a new hat, pair of gloves, or scarf before January 8, 2027 is a practical way to support local families.
What happens next
The campaign kicks off November 16, 2026, and donations are accepted through January 8, 2027.
Further reading
For more on corporate giving in the region, explore Buffalo Philanthropy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Power 93.7 WBLK.
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