BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Pastor Tim Newkirk with GYC Ministries is gearing up for a major backpack giveaway in honor of 12-year-old Jaylen Griffin.
The Buffalo Police Department announced Friday that Griffin, who was missing since August 2020 and was found in April 2024, was stabbed to death.
Griffin was last seen on August 4, 2020, when he told his family he was walking to a store on Broadway. He never returned home. In April he was found dead inside a home on Sheffield Avenue.
"This is not an ordinary giveaway. This is for a legacy of a 12-year-old," Pastor Newkirk said. "It's a huge event, and it's very positive because what it's doing is creating and establishing a legacy of Jaylen Griffin."
These bags will be filled with all the back-to-school essentials and even hygiene products. Pastor Newkirk says each bag will also have something special in honor of Griffin.
"All these bags will be branded with Justice for Jaylen," he said. "You imagine when you see these book bags and someone says, 'I got the same book bag too.' You get to talk about the person and the legacy of Jaylen Griffin."
GYC Ministries still needs help and is asking for donations before next month's giveaway.
"We need people. We need community because it becomes a discussion piece. If you're buying book bags for your family, and you think of Jaylen Griffin's legacy, and you happen to buy two book bags and some supplies, you know, that will help us a lot and we're having it right here at the [Fellowship World Church]," Pastor Newkirk said. "We want to put everything in a book bag that will give a kid a hand up and not a handout."
The event will include music, food and education. Pastor Newkirk hopes to continue this mission of supporting the community even beyond the giveaway.
"If we can help in any way, any way possible. You know, this is what we want to do, and continue this in the name of Jaylen," he said.
The backpack giveaway will be on Saturday, September 14 at 878 Humboldt Parkway. Donations can be dropped off at the church between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sundays.
