Bills players blitzed 150 kids with healthy messages, physical fitness activities and nutritional information in the Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse Tuesday during the Bills 13th annual Hometown Huddle community program for kids.
As part of Hometown Huddle, the Bills Toyota Rookie Club including Marcell Dareus, Chris Hairston, Justin Rogers, Da' Norris Searcy, Kelvin Sheppard, Lee Smith, Chris White, Johnny White, Aaron Williams, Kamar Aiken, Brandon Bing, Michael Jasper, Doyle Miller, Joshua Nesbitt and Keith Williams interacted with the children, ages 6-12 years old, from the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo and Jericho Road Ministries.
"We are just out here getting these kids fit and active and giving back to the community of Buffalo," said Dareus. "We encourage families to do activities together so everyone can enjoy a healthier lifestyle."
The event was sponsored by the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council and the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.
Players participated with the kids at three interactive stations at the Hometown Huddle – a nutrition program where kids learned how to make healthy snacks using dairy and fruit, a health and wellness quiz show with Quizmaster Dennis George, and a football themed fitness station where kids worked on their passing, field goal kicking and running.
"Today was a lot of fun," said Aaron Williams. "We had children making yogurt parfaits, participating in the health and wellness quiz station and then a football station. It really taught kids there are fun ways to go out and be active. It was definitely a day of play at the Bills Fieldhouse today!"
Additional elements at the Hometown Huddle included appearances by Billy Buffalo, Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders, gift bags, a healthy dinner for each participant, and pictures of the kids with milk mustaches.
The NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle is a day of service that provides NFL players and coaches from each team the opportunity to take part in a variety of community-service activities. On one designated day each year, Hometown Huddle events are co-hosted in every NFL city by the respective NFL franchises and local United Ways. Since 1999, Hometown Huddle continues to help make a difference in communities across the country.
