Bills fans come together in Huntington Station for community and charity
Long Island Bills Backers gathered for championship Sunday and a food drive.
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Buffalo Bills fans gathered at at Instant Replay Bar in Huntington Station on Sunday not just to cheer on their team but also to support a good cause.
The bar is one of the few official Bills Backers bars on Long Island.
The event drew a large and lively crowd, thanks to the efforts of Mary Rickard and Tracy Iacovelli, co-presidents of the Long Island Bills Backers.
“We have all found our people to have a good time and cheer on a team that we love so much,” said Iacovelli, standing among a sea of red, white, and blue-clad fans.
Rickard and Iacovelli, both from upstate New York originally, have been leading the group for several years. They say it hasn’t always been like this. When they first started, Bills fans on Long Island were scattered, and gatherings were much smaller.
“We are so proud of how much work we have done and how much we have gathered this community together,” Rickard said.
Now, the group has a dedicated following, with fans who show up week after week to support the team. For many, it’s more than just football – it’s about connection.
“We are diehards,” said Ashley Stroobants, a Huntington resident and regular at Instant Replay. “We come here every Bills game -- this is our new stomping ground.”
Michael Rickard, echoed the sentiment.
“It’s a sense of community that people are looking for,” he said.
This season, the Long Island Bills Backers took their passion for the team a step further by organizing a food drive for Long Island Cares.
“This time of year, after Christmas and Thanksgiving, people tend to forget to donate,” Iacovelli said.
Inspired by the Bills’ team popular saying, “Everybody Eats,” the group collected donations to help those in need.
“We have so many receivers, so many running backs, everybody was getting their chance to shine on the team, so the team called it, ‘Everybody Eats.’ So now we are getting to be a part of that with Long Island and our community,” Rickard said.
Donations poured in, filling boxes to support local families.
Proceeds from the night’s 50/50 raffle were also donated to the cause.
