West Side Community Services offers a variety of programs to strengthen and celebrate families. We are always adding new programs so follow our Facebook page for updates or check this page frequently.

 

Community Events

Join our email list or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to hear about upcoming events!

Youth must be accompanied by an adult to attend our community events.

Save the date for our next community event: West Side Art Bash on Friday, May 17 from 6-8 p.m.

 

Tintype Portraits Community Project – April 15-17

Local artist Jeannine Swallow is creating tintype portraits as part of a community art project. This project aims to create meaningful portraits for families within the Buffalo community. The portraits will be created using the historic process of wet plate collodion, resulting in a tintype photograph.

The project will be completed using a 4″ x 5″ view camera along with a portable darkroom. The opportunity is made available to the public via partnerships with local community centers. It will include the neighborhoods of South, East, and West Buffalo. The project will culminate in an art exhibition in the city.

Due to the cumbersome nature of the process, there are a limited number of portrait opportunities.

Please visit www.jeannineswallow.com/tintypecommunity to learn more about this project or to schedule a portrait sitting at West Side Community Services, Locust Street Art, or the Old First Ward Community Center.

 

Safe Driver Academy Defensive Driving Class

Thursday, April 18 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Course cost: $35, payable at class

Defensive driving classes don’t have to be boring! Take the Safe Driver Academy Defensive Driving Class, NYS DMV’s only approved humor-based course and save 10% on your auto insurance for three years. Plus, reduce up to four points from your DMV record.

Attendees must bring their own lunch.

To register, please call 716-884-6616 x101.

 

Good for the Neighborhood with the Independent Health Foundation

Good for the Neighborhood is a free, community-based wellness program that brings health-related training and tools to areas where access to health care is limited. Individuals and families are encouraged to manage and improve their health by attending quarterly health fair-style events and workshops.

What’s included: Free health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, height, and weight), produce/grocery giveaways, kids’ activities, raffles, visiting organizations offering additional resources.

 

2024 Dates

 

Thursday, April 4 | 4-5:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, July 25 | 5-7 p.m.

Thanks to the Independent Health Foundation, free backpacks and school supplies will be distributed while supplies last.

 

Thursday, October 3 | 5-6:30 p.m.

Details will be shared this fall.

 

 

 

Community Initiatives

 

WSCS collaborates with several community-wide initiatives aimed at strengthening the safety and vitality of the West Side community.

  • Independent Health Foundation

  • Px21 (Erie County coalition of substance abuse prevention agencies)

  • West Zone Community Schools

  • West Side Promise Neighborhood

  • B-District Community Police

  • West Side Youth Development Coalition