Alaina GetzenbergESPN
BUFFALO, NY — Thurman Thomas and his wife, Patricia, were at the forefront after the racially motivated shooting at Tops Friendly Markets in East Buffalo that left 10 dead and three injured, fundraising and working to support and be there for the community .
When the Hall-of-Fame running back heard stories about the dead, a clear theme emerged.
“The only thing I learned that I hear when you talk about every victim, someone talking about them, is that they were here to help someone else,” Thomas said. “And that’s right there telling you the love that people have for each other in Buffalo. We’re at a point right now where we just don’t see it often enough. But man, I love being out there. I’ve got I’m been there for about three hours I have a lot of things to do but these people make sure I don’t talk to them here and put a smile on their face and take pictures or whatever it’s like that was a good day it’s time to start healing. Because it’s time to start healing.”
A day after the Bills organization — players, coaches, staff — visited the shooting site and volunteered, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell — who is from Jamestown, New York, about an hour and a half south of Buffalo — – Kim and Terry Pegula, owners of the Buffalo Bills and Sabers, and a variety of former Bills and Sabers players and others gathered on Thursday to visit the memorial and the many volunteers on Jefferson Avenue, while also handing out groceries and other supplies at the Western New York Resource Center.
The group wore shirts that read “Choose Love,” as the Bills, Sabers and National Lacrosse League Buffalo Bandits did the day before.
Goodell and his wife, Jane, are donating $50,000 to the Bills Social Justice Fund, in addition to the $400,000 donation from The Buffalo Bills Foundation and The NFL Foundation to the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund and local nonprofit organizations.
“I have a personal connection to this community because it really is my home,” Goodell said. “I think we wanted to make sure that the people here knew that they were not alone, that we all supported them and how proud we are of the way they are responding. What gave me the most comfort was talking to the individuals We all know we have a tragic circumstance here 10 victims but there are a lot of other people here who are really hurt we just want them to know that we are all behind them and we are all going to do what we can to help them to support.”
The Thurman Thomas Family Foundation has also raised more than $200,000 to give back to the victims’ families and the community.
Jim Kelly commented on how proud he was of the current Bills players for standing up for the city of Buffalo and the former players acknowledging that “this is our city too.”
A variety of emotions were present throughout the day as Hall-of-Famer Bruce Smith wept at the memorial to the victims, while Terry Pegula was also visibly moved.
Smith felt compelled to pay his respects after, as he described, the “horrific frenzy of killing, killing innocent African Americans who just went to the grocery store.” The Hall of Famer wanted to show support for a community that has been there for him.
“I had to have that moment so I could start this healing process,” Smith said. “And to be here today, handing out food and with my brother Thurman (Thomas) and Jim (Kelly) and the Pegulas and Roger (Goodell) and so many others.
“And then see the community. I bet you, this racist didn’t count on this outpouring of love that’s happening right now. The strengthening of this community that’s going on right now. And we’re going to build on that.”
As for the future impact that the Bills and NFL plan to help this part of Buffalo’s community, Goodell noted how important it is to “make long-term changes that will hopefully prevent this in the future,” much further. than the elevation that can come from an afternoon, that is still being worked on.
“That was one of the things that really resonated with[the people in the community]is exactly what happens after the cameras go? What happens if it’s not the main news story of the week,” Kim Pegula said. “Here we want to listen to them and understand what the real needs are, and with the goal of sustainability in mind. How do we improve what we do, what has been done? How do we prevent this kind of thing, how do we change our behavior and our spirit, but in a way that remains real and meaningful?”
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