BUFFALO, N.Y. — In many communities, strong role models are the difference between a successful future and losing a kid to the streets. On the lower west side of Buffalo, I came across one man who is living that mantra of giving back, through his actions and his food. "Food makes people happy" says Edward Colon, and he makes a lot of people happy at his restaurant, Sandwichon' Macho near Niagara Square. "I wanted to do something different, not the same as everybody else, I wanted to pay tribute to my Latin community." He also works hard to pay it back to that community.
Edward, who's better known as Macho, credits sports with keeping him out of trouble, and the coaches and mentors he had for instilling great qualities into his character. He has always been about paying it forward and making sure kids have someone to look up to, like he had after he moved here with his mother from Rochester. "Just having those coaches who were there, giving me an opportunity and mentoring me. Coming from a broken home and things like that, you need somebody there to believe in you."
And for 28 years, he has tried to be that same type of mentor and role model with West Side Little League Football. He started coaching his kids, then continued. Macho took over as president just before COVID struck and kept things going and growing. He began with one team and now they're up to 5 teams, ages 5-14, along with 3 cheerleading groups. "These kids don't have a chance these days. Life is fast, life is aggressive. These kids, you know, if they don't have anybody that's gonna do right by them, teach them the right ways, prepare them for all the challenges that they're going to face in life.">
He thinks back to all the people he had in his life to push him in the right direction, one of the biggest was his Grover High School coach, and West Side Little League legend, Art Serotte. He says he stands on his shoulders in helping out the next generation. "I care about my community and the lower west side."
After all, Macho started his culinary career right there in his community, making sandwiches in front of his house. He says he saw how much in meant to people, he decided to make it his business. Today, he uses his business contacts to get sponsors, and other donations to keep his other passion going, helping kids through sports.