‘Huddle for Hunger’ unites Bills players and fans for a cause

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Wide receiver Mack Hollins stood tall among the volunteers collecting food donations from a lineup of cars at One Bills Drive Tuesday afternoon — despite standing in his traditional bare feet.

“I’ve always done community stuff,” he said as he grabbed bags of food donated by Bills fans rolling by in their vehicles. “When I played in Philly, if my on-field performance wasn’t as good, fans still loved me because they knew what I did to help the community. It made me play harder.”

‘Huddle for Hunger’ drew a large contingent of Bills veterans and rookies to the Highmark Stadium parking lot. The goal was to stuff a tractor-trailer with donated non-perishables that will be distributed to hundreds of food relief agencies and pantries across Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

The event is supported by Wegmans, WIVB News 4, the Buffalo Bills Foundation, and many others.

“I’m blown away by the support,” said Catherine Shick, Communications Manager for

. Cars, school buses, corporate volunteers, and Bills players past and present filled the lot, including 85-year-old Booker Edgerson.

Running back Frank Gore, Jr. was pitching in. He said his father, who also played for the Bills, told him it was important to help others in Western New York.

“If you help the community, they will in turn support you,” he said.

Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas said he had talked to five or six of the young players at this event about the importance of “Class and Character.” That was his high school motto in Missouri City, Texas, and he sees it demonstrated particularly in this season’s Bills team.

He told the young players to get outside the stadium and see more than the fans in the stands — see what this community is all about.

And then, Thomas said, “Don’t stop here. Do more, as long as you are helping people.”

Alden High School students are learning the same lesson. They drove up in two school buses singing, cheering, and off-loading fourteen bins of food.

Rachel Hiller is a social worker at the school and said the students have truly embraced the cause of helping others. “Each year,” she said, “they want to do better and better.”

Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins was so eager to help, he said he went to Wegmans and picked up 100 boxes of his new “Buffalo Shnow Crunch” cereal in the morning and drove around all day with those boxes in his truck. By the time he could drop them off at the collection site, Dawkins said with a smile, “Two of the boxes had magically opened!”

Lakeview resident Susan Ballard was alone in her car as she moved through the line of vehicles waiting to drop off food donations. It was the cause and the atmosphere that drew her to join the outpouring of support at the stadium Tuesday. “I just love what they’re doing,” she said. “I’ve donated before, and this is just such a cool event!”

Jacquie Walker is an award-winning anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 1983. See more of her work here.