Bills Star Damar Hamlin Gives Back To Kids In Buffalo, New York

After a wonderful summer, it's time for some folks in Western New York to get back to work. Whether we're talking about Teachers, Students, or professional NFL Football Players, September marks the start of the school year and football season in the 716.

With thousands of kids getting ready to get back in school, buildings, faculty, administrators, and support staff have been hard at work these last few weeks to get classrooms ready. As the days turn into hours before school starts, some have been scrambling to ensure they have all the necessary supplies to ensure success this school year. I took a trip to Walmart, Office Depot, and Target over the weekend to ensure I had all the supplies I needed for my little one, and I can tell you I wasn't the only one scurrying around to grab those last-minute school supplies.

READ MORE: When Are You Supposed To Stop For A School Bus In New York?

Being that Buffalo continues to rank as one of the poorest cities in America, it's a known fact that not everyone will be able to make sure their kids have all the things they need for school this year. Because of this, folks all over the region band together to host backpack drives and school supply collection events in every corner of the 716.

READ MORE: Buffalo Businesses Team Up To Stuff The Bus With School Supplies

The generosity of people in the Buffalo area knows no bounds, and that was proven again on Sunday, September 1, 2024, when Buffalo Bills' star Safety Damar Hamlin held his annual backpack giveaway right in the middle of Buffalo.

Hamlin and his charity, The Chasing M's Foundation, gathered at the historic Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium with the American Heart Association, Verizon, Buffalo Bills Foundation, Buffalo PAL, and Bevel: A Men’s Grooming brand to host 500 Buffalo kids and their parents for an amazing event. In addition to providing backpacks and school supplies to everyone there, Hamlin and the crew held a youth football clinic where he taught some gridiron skills, along with tons of games, free food, CPR Training classes, and a cadre of barbers and hairstyles, which were on hand to offer free haircuts and hair braiding.

Over the years, Hamlin has talked about the motivations behind his charity, including wanting to ensure that youth sports opportunities are developed with high levels of health and safety, as well as making sure kids are engaged in more than just sports, but with great activities, along with education, training, and programming.

Events like these are possible when leaders like Hamlin team up with those in the community, and couldn't be accomplished without the support of groups like The Buffalo Police Department, City of Buffalo, National Grid Power, The Teacher’s Desk, Bank on Buffalo, Signature Cuts, GR8 Elite Ducks Parent Organization, Phi Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Councilwoman Leah Halton-Pope, Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Kappa Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

Way to go, Buffalo; this is exactly how we do it in the 716.