Emily Thie’s third-grade students at Fredonia Elementary School made cards to send well wishes to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in his recovery from cardiac arrest suffered during Monday night’s football game in Cincinnati. Photo courtesy of Fredonia Elementary School

The Buffalo Bills have been known for years as having some of the most charitable fans of any team in all of football. The latest example of that, however, isn’t limited to just Bills fans.

Since the life-threatening injury Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered on Monday night in Cincinnati, the National Football League community and its fans have come together to show support of the 24-year-old, second-year pro safety in his recovery from cardiac arrest.

Hamlin’s charity, the Chasing M’s Foundation, has received nearly $8 million in donations since the incident from over 234,000 donors. “Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us,” a statement from Hamlin’s representatives said on the charity’s GoFundMe page.

Since 2020, Hamlin has been involved with an annual toy drive to support his community of McKees Rocks, in a small suburban area just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa.

“As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me. I created The Chasing M’s Foundation as a vehicle that will allow me to deliver that impact,” Hamlin said in a statement on his charity’s GoFundMe page prior to his injury.

Students and staff at Gowanda Central School showed their support for Damar Hamlin in his recovery from Monday’s incident. Photo courtesy of Gowanda Central School District

Friday, Hamlin was named the Community MVP by the National Football League Players Association for Week 18. “Even before Jan. 2, Hamlin was so much more than a football player. He’s a fighter; devoted family member and friend; servant leader who has impacted hundreds of kids in his hometown of Pittsburgh,” the NFLPA said in its announcement.

More than just donations that have poured in to support Hamlin in his recovery. Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor drove to the hospital the night of the incident to check on Hamlin’s status. His wife, Sarah, “is leading the charge of grade-school students in Cincinnati who are writing get-well cards for the Bills safety,” according to ESPN.

Locally, students at Fredonia Elementary School have followed suit. Emily Thie’s third grade class made cards to send well wishes to Hamlin during his recovery. “They hope to share some smiles and spread some kindness to the Hamlin family,” Fredonia Elementary School said on social media.

Students and staff at the Gowanda Central School District also took photos showing their support for Hamlin and shared the photos on its district social media account.

Former Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, arranged to provide meals for the Hamlin family and medical personnel who cared for Hamlin, including the Bills staff members and the doctors and nurses at the University of Cincinnati Health’s intensive care unit.

“I found a sandwich shop and ordered food — chips, drinks and sandwiches, everything I could find, salads, whatever,” Phillips told Vikings reporters. “I just wanted to try to do something.”

Phillips’ own foundation, Harrison’s Playmakers, also opened a branch to receive donations “to do an event in Damar’s honor that will hopefully be a celebration of his life and his recovery in the months to come,” Phillips said.

Friday morning, the Bills announced Hamlin is now breathing on his own and has spoken with teammates. When Hamlin was first able to communicate with doctors, he asked who won the game on Monday night, which has since been declared no contest. Doctors told Hamlin, “Damar, you won. You won the game of life.”