Recently, those efforts resulted in an authentic Italian dinner to raise money for the B.E. Strong 716 foundation that Eimiller created after the May 9, 2021, death of her son, Bannon, while riding his skateboard along Route 430 in Ellery.

“Every year, for four years now, we’ve hosted an authentic Italian dinner,” Eimiller said. “This is one of our main fundraisers for the year. … Everyone seemed to rave about the soup, meatballs and baked goods. We raised approximately $10,000 for B.E. Strong 716. We are going to do a lot of good for our area with these funds.”

However, for Eimiller this year’s program was made extra special by the addition of volunteer help from another family, who is also grieving the loss of their special needs son.

“The highlight for me was having one of Bannon’s former football coaches- volunteer with his wife. They lost their son this past year. He was severely disabled and he died in May at the age of 19,” Eimiller said. “In our shared grief we talked about our boys. She (wife) said to me that Bannon would see their son at practice and always treated him as if he was just like any one of the other kids. She also told me that in the year before Bannon’s passing, he would come into her workplace, and he always went out of his way to say ‘hello’.”

From left, the late Bannon Eimiller and his mom Junie Eimiller, volunteering at a Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell event. Junie has created a nonprofit organization entitled B.E (Bannon Eimiller) Strong 716 to honor the memory and legacy of her son. Submitted photo

While tragedy and pain has drawn the two couples together on a unified front, Eimiller said the pain is still fresh.

“I love and appreciate the Senskes,” said Junie. “No parent or parents should have to endure what we’ve endured. They (Senskes) are still grieving. I’m still grieving. There are days when I get into a funk – the pain is still very real. The only thing we can do is honor the memory of our kids and try and make our little corner of the world a better place.”

Eimiller said donations from B.E. Strong 716 issued from September through February include funding for medical expenses of a parent of a Southwestern Central School district student with terminal cancer (September 2024); “Blind Pig” Charity Golf Tournament co-host for two terminally ill individuals (September 2024); funeral costs for a retiree whose son passed away (October 2024); shopping trip for teen cancer patient Sophia Baudo (November 2024); gift cards to several Southwestern Central School district families in need (December 2024); Christmas gifts through the Salvation Army of Jamestown’s Angel Tree Program (December 2024); Lakewood family who lost their house because of a structure fire (January 2025); Hospice: merchandise for grief counselor Jamie Probst to aid children in therapy (February 2025.)

Other beneficiaries of B.E. Strong 716 funding gifts, during the previous four years of the nonprofits’ existence include, 716 Puppet Productions, United Christian Advocacy Network’s City Mission (UCAN), Jamestown Midget Football League, Chautauqua Striders Gift Basket, Mental Health Association, Johnny’s Mafia (for then six-year-old pediatric cancer patient Johnny Lamancuso), All for Amy Scholarship Fund, JTNY Power House Skate Park- three benches and two tables, Aspire of Western New York Helping Hands Program for People with Special Needs, Cherry Creek Youth Project, and the Stop Soldiers Suicide Walk, along with others.

“It’s all about giving back to our community,” Eimiller said. “Each other is all we have here in Western New York.”

For more information visit bestrong716.org or visit B.E. Strong 716 on Facebook.