BUFFALO, N.Y. — Where is Jaylen Griffin? That's the question some are asking after the 12-year-old Buffalo boy went missing last August. Community organizations are now teaming up to search for him and hopefully bring him home.

What You Need To Know

  • Jaylen Griffin, 12, was last seen at his house in Buffalo last August 
  • GYC Ministries is pooling together community groups to search for him
  • They're asking to call them if you have any information about Jaylen's whereabouts
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"He doesn't have the opportunity to be with his family and be around his loved ones and those that care about him,” said Pastor Tim Newkirk, of GYC Ministries.

It's been over half a year since Jaylen went missing. He was last seen at his house in Buffalo on August 4, 2020. 

"Was he abducted, is he in trouble, does he need us?" asked Tamea Dixon, the community liaison for GYC Ministries.

Spectrum News spoke with the Griffin family last December as they mourned the loss of their 18-year-old son Jawaan, who was shot and killed right before Thanksgiving. The loss was even more painful for them considering they were also searching for Jaylen during that time.

Fast forward to now, the community is stepping in to try to find the 12-year-old.

"This here is a way to wake up our community that we can't stand by and do nothing. We have to do something. We have a lot of organizations in the city of Buffalo and the Western New York area. This should be just as important as anything else that's taking place," Pastor Newkirk said.

GYC Ministries is launching the Community Action Coalition of WNY to bring awareness to issues that plague the community like missing children. The coalition, which consists of religious, political, and community organizations, is launching search parties to locate Jaylen. They spent part of Friday afternoon on Broadway near the Super Saver market, holding up posters with pictures of Jaylen on it.

"We're here in this location here because Super Saver is a large store in this community where a lot of people come in and out of. I've talked to the different owners of the stores and the gas stations and they mention this store in this area here would be a good start," Pastor Newkirk said.

They plan to search throughout the area as they implement an all hands on deck effort with one goal in mind. 

"We really look forward to what we can do together in making sure that we can bring this 12-year-old boy home," Dixon said.

Buffalo Police tell Spectrum News Jaylen is still listed as a missing person and their investigation is ongoing. They encourage the public to continue to look for him and to contact the department if they have any information about Jaylen's whereabouts. They also say he is listed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

You can also contact the Community Action Coalition hotline at 716-770-9093, if you have any information that can help the Griffin family or police.