The Buffalo City Mission tackled its annual Thanksgiving "Community Meal" on November 16th with support from former Buffalo Bills stars, including Buffalo Bills cornerback Booker Edgerson ('62-'69), quarterback/wide receiver Ed Rutkowski (63'-68'), defensive back, Jeffrey Nixon ('79-'84) and wide receiver/special teamer Lou Piccone (77'-82').
The former Bills players teamed up to serve more than 250 people a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The Bills alums also greeted guests, washed dishes, and of course, signed autographs.
"The Buffalo City Mission Thanksgiving Community Meal allows us to open our doors and provide a warm Thanksgiving meal to hundreds of individuals and families who might normally go hungry during the holiday season," said Stuart Harper, Mission executive director. "We're so grateful to the Buffalo Bills organization for lending us their former greats. It truly means so much to the people who come in for their Thanksgiving meal to also get an opportunity to meet the players they once cheered for."
Edgerson, Rutkowski, Nixon and Piccone joined a legendary line-up in what has become a tradition for the Buffalo Bills players. Others who have lent a helping hand to the Mission over the years include Brian Moorman, Bryan Scott, Terrell Owens, Chris Draft, CJ Hawthorne, Joe Burns, Josh Stamer, Jabari Greer, Duke Preston, John Stamers and more.
In addition to feeding hundreds of the poor and homeless at the Men's Community Center at its "Thanksgiving Community Meal," the Mission also will deliver more than 3,500 meals on Thanksgiving Day to homebound families and senior citizens as part of its "Turkey Express" program.
The Buffalo City Mission, founded in 1917, is a not-for-profit organization that provides preventative, emergency and long-term recovery services to thousands of people who are homeless or impoverished. The Mission includes: Women and Children's Shelter (Cornerstone Manor); the Men's Community Center; the Mission Automobile Vehicle Donation Program; and the Dick Road thrift store to better serve our community. For more information, please visit www.buffalocitymission.org or 854-8181.
The Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation was founded in 1960. It is comprised of past Buffalo Bills players who left an imprint on society during their football careers, and want to continue molding society in a positive manner. Not only have they changed the game, but they have touched and shaped Buffalo as we know it today. For more information, please visit www.buffalobillsalumni.com.
