Skip to Content

Damar Hamlin hosts annual toy drive in his hometown

<i></i><br/>Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin dresses up as Santa during his annual toy drive.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin dresses up as Santa during his annual toy drive.

By KDKA Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin stopped by his hometown of McKees Rocks on Tuesday night to host a toy drive for local kids.

It’s the fourth annual drive for his Chasing M’s Foundation and last night’s event was hosted at the Sto-Rox Junior/Senior High Schoool.

Hamlin was dressed up as Santa while taking pictures and giving out toys to children.

He says he never imagined the toy distribution would grow so quickly and help so many kids.

“That’s something I wanted my entire life as a kid,” Hamlin said. “I wanted to be able to have that role model figure that was from where I was and did what I wanted to do — to be able to give back to the community. I live my whole life for a moment like this. Moments like these make me feel like my life’s complete.”

In January, fans donated millions to a GoFundMe for Hamlin’s toy drive after he went into cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field in Cincinnati during a Monday Night Football game.

Hamlin returned to the field in October, less than a year after his heart stopped and he saw his first defensive game action of the season last month, making a tackle against the Denver Broncos in Buffalo.

He has since used the foundation to host football camps, provide free CPR training, donate defibrillators to youth sports organizations, and create a scholarship in honor of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center staff who saved his life.

Toys on Tuesday night were given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content