Damar Hamlin Helped Nearly 1,000 Kids Get Ready For School In Buffalo

There's something special about the people of Buffalo. Western New Yorkers are a hearty bunch who go out of thier way to take care of their own and try to make things better for the next person. That's one of the reasons why Buffalo is referred to as the City of Good Neighbors, and the people show you why that is every day.

Now, it's especially something when someone comes into Western New York and starts to exhibit those qualities, which is something that was on full display at the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as one of Buffalo's most recent adopted sons took steps to make sure nearly 1,000 Buffalo kids what all the things they needed to go back to school in a few weeks.

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Joined by his foundation Chasing M's and dozens of other community partners, Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin held his annual backpack giveaway.

Several hundred kids ran, jumped, and played all over the grass fields that were once the home of the Buffalo Bills while getting access to the school supplies they'll need this year, plus free haircuts, free food and grocery bags, mental health and CPR training, plus some encouraging words from Damar himself.

I'm a firm believer in, on the field, you look good, you feel good, you play good. So we're here today to give those kids that opportunity, going back to school with a backpack full of supplies, fresh haircuts, fresh braids, fresh dreads, and all the resources to have a good year. I would tell all the kids here today going back to school to just believe in yourselves. You can be whatever you want to be. Seeing me here today, I'm no different than you.
-Damar Hamlin

Damar Hamlin was on hand for the event, and TJ Parker, Jordan Hancock, and DJ Miller also showed up to encourage the kids; they hung around to sign autographs, take pictures, and even play flag football. Even Billy Buffalo was on hand to take some pictures, and he even did some line dances with people on the field.

Ed Nice Jackson

It takes an entire village of people and organizations to make events like this happen, and thanks to Damar and Buffalo Police Athletic League, Buffalo Public Schools, The Teacher’s Desk, Phi Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Councilmembers Zeneta Everhart and Leah Halton-Pope, Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Kappa Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the American Heart Association.

If you missed the event, you can check out some photos from Johnnie B. Wiley below.