A group of Bills coaches and staff members spent Wednesday morning at Buffalo City Mission serving lunch and spending time with members of the Buffalo community.
The coaches served meals to both individuals who live outside of City Mission as well residents of the facility. DJ Milk and DJ Yes provided musical entertainment and there was a table of giveaways for the diners.
Special teams coach Matthew Smiley said that he enjoyed the bonding experience of serving alongside his fellow coaches: assistant special teams coach Cory Harkey, offensive assistant/offensive line coach Austin Gund and director of team administration Matt Worswick.
"I think it's a great opportunity for us to be able to serve, to see how much it means to the community and to be able to do something together, to serve as a coaching staff and a Buffalo Bills group to the community," Smiley said.
Smiley and the coaches toured the facility, which includes emergency dormitories, transitional housing, a gym, classrooms, a computer lab and a chapel. He encouraged all residents of Buffalo to spend time volunteering with Buffalo City Mission.
"We took a tour today and I think the biggest thing to remember is that the guys here are excited to see people that are associated with the Bills, but I think they're excited for the outreach that's happening here and anybody in the community that has the opportunity to give, to serve, they would be just as thrilled to see somebody helping in the situation that they're in," Smiley said. "I would encourage anybody; you don't have to work for the Buffalo Bills to come out and support the community."
Buffalo City Mission manager of volunteers and community engagement Julia Dressler spoke on how impactful hosting a group of volunteers is for the mission.
"It means everything," Dressler said. "If you were to come in on a normal day, it would look completely different than how it looked today. We had our residents dancing and laughing. When we have special events like this, it really lifts the morale.
"There are guys who, today was their first day here and for them to come in today and not only get clean clothes and a bed but to come in and see, 'oh wow, the Bills actually care about me?' It reminds them of their worth and their dignity and it just lifts up the whole environment here," Dressler said.
Buffalo City Mission provides housing for 250 people between its men's and women and children's shelters as well as provides preventative services for those on the brink of homelessness.
