BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) – “Save Weinberg” was the message that rang out during a picket in Downtown Buffalo outside the Ellicott Square building.

The last effort was to convince the state to reconsider approved closure plan.

I spoke with those rallying to keep the facility alive at the Weinberg Campus in front of the state’s regional health department.

“It’s been tough for us,” Weinberg campus employee Shakia Jones explained. “I do what I can for them and they depend on us and everything is taken away from all of us.”

They were heartbroken words from Jones, who has worked at Weinberg for more than six years.

“We don’t have any health insurance right now. He just had major surgery. I don’t have thousands of dollars to pay for the coverage I lost in August. I found out on Saturday that I didn’t have health insurance,” said Christina Tonge. .

This was a harsh reality for Christina Tonge and her family, whose husband has worked at the Weinberg Campus for more than 30 years.

Weinberg Campus employee LaCearne Toni Banks said, “When I started working there, it was a beautiful place, and we can bring it back to that.”

Sadness, but still a glimmer of hope from people like Banks, a 14-year employee at the Weinberg Campus, who I’ve been hearing from for weeks.

They all hope that the New York State Department of Health will support the more than 300 dedicated employees and the more than 100 residents and their families.

Carol Czarniak said, “I would like to know, Governor Hochul, why you can’t save this facility. Why? If your mother was there, what would you do? I know you would save this campus.”

Residents like Maryann Diminuco and Carol Czarniak’s mother, who has dementia.

She has been a resident of Weinberg for eight years, which they consider top notch for their mother.

“We are a family. The staff are the reason I rest easy at night knowing my mom is taken care of. My mom will not survive a transfer. I looked at over 10 facilities to try to get my mom in because we are being rushed out there,” Czarniak said. “No one has beds. There are no beds available. So it’s not like I can take my mother and put her somewhere else. I don’t want to put it anywhere else. I’m her primary caregiver, along with my sisters, and I’m telling you, please save this campus.”

The sisters said the facilities have no beds available, which is the same scenario for other families.

“I have heard reports from family members that they are struggling to find nursing homes that will accept their residents, especially nursing homes where they want their residents to be. You heard from family members today, they don’t have an option in front of them that they’re comfortable with,” said 1199SEIU Vice President for WNY Nursing Homes, Grace Bogdanove.

The union said 50 residents at the Rosa Coplon Life Center have been relocated so far.

“Fix this. New York State, you have the power to fix this and save these lives. Please do something,” Tonge added.

On Wednesday, a job fair will be held for the approximately 300 employees who are expected to lose their jobs soon.

The job fair will be held at the Weinberg Campus from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.