QUEENS, N.Y. - Amid a rise in gun violence, community leaders in Queens hosted a gun buyback program, asking residents to trade guns for cash cards.

Keri Oest calls herself a die hard New Yorker. She told NY1 that she’s troubled by the recent spike in gun violence.On Saturday, she said she did her part to  make the streets safer.

"We need to stop the violence and there was a gun in my house and there's no reason for me to have it so I said, ‘Get it off the streets,’” Oest said.

Oest brought her gun to the Greater Springfield Community Church, where the NYPD and Queens District Attorney’s Office were ready to exchange it for a $200 cash card.

"It was very easy,” Oest said of the process. “You just walk in, you give them the gun, they give you a number, and you go downstairs to the basement, you wait and then you get a gift card."

There are no questions asked, not even a name, and illegal guns are accepted too, as long as they are in working condition.

“We cannot prosecute our way out of this,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a press release. “We need everyone working together - my office, law enforcement, our faith leaders and everyone in the community to stop the violence."

Faith leaders say every gun collected is a life saved.

“Bullets have no names,” said Pastor Philip Craig, who is hosting a gun buyback at Greater Springfield Community Church for the first time. “It is not prejudice for any race, color, and I believe everyone should be a part of a program such as this to get guns off the street by any means necessary because we don’t know who is going to be next,” he added.

Other firearms are accepted also, including  rifles, shotguns, BB guns, and air pistols. A $25 cash card will be offered in exchange for these items. There is no limit on the number of firearms that will be accepted, but compensation will be offered for no more than three.

Another gun buyback is planned for Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, located at 330 Beach 67th Street, Arverne, NY.

Guns owned by active or retired law enforcement or a licensed gun dealer will not be accepted. More information about the gun buyback is available by calling 311.