That strong spirit brought together Feed The Children, Lowe’s, the NFL Players Association and others to bring aid and lift the spirits of the victims of Sandy. Feed the children partnered with Lowes home-improvement stores at three different locations, Tom’s River New Jersey, Rosedale New York, and Bay Shore New York, sending semi-tractor trailers of disaster relief supplies to help victims in need. Former NFL players Scott Davis, Christian Peter, Keith Elias, and Damian Gregory were all on hand to assist in delivering the supplies to the community.

Suzanne Werdann the vice president of partner development and sports relations for Feed The Children stated, “Damian Gregory was a huge hit with the Rosedale Lowe’s employees as well as families receiving product. That particular store had 5 feet of water and was still closed to the public. Most of the 100 employees had their homes affected” Scott Davis, Christian Peter, and Keith Elias (Former NY Giants) worked the Tom’s River Lowe’s store “it was raining most of the morning but there were probably 100 people that came through between 10 and 12. it was myself, Christian, Keith…, along with about 20 Lowe’s employees. We handed out diapers, cleaning supplies, food and water. We took pictures and signed autographs for the volunteers. The people in need were all very thankful and many had tears in their eyes, it was great to help out.”

Scott Davis Keith Elias Former Players NYG

Damian stated, “The event went extremely well I was the only player present but we gave away most items to the folks that needed it most.” Demonstrating the difficulties for all New Yorkers, other former NFL players like Courtney Hall committed to participating but because of the fuel rationing in New York he could not get fuel for his vehicle to make it out to the site. Other former players are helping out as well like former Super Bowl Champion Giants player Bart Oates who spent time on Staten Island helping to clean out the basements of the flood victims. Bart’s quote epitomizes the spirit of New York and it’s people, “I just enjoyed working with other folks and seeing the appreciation from those we helped.” Former Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis a VP of sales at FEPCO Trucking |WPS Team Logistics, helped his company to deliver donated aid to the areas of need in New York City for FEMA. Even athletes from other major sports like the New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony have come to the aid of New Yorkers. Carmelo, a native of Red Hook, Brooklyn hand delivered aid to his old neighborhood.

The Volunteers!

For former and current athletes, volunteering oneself to help the team is not a foreign concept. It is a concept that is embraced and continually exhibited by many on the field in service of ones teammates, and off the field, long after the game is over, in service on one’s community. Suzanne Werdann of Feed The Children summarizes that positive effect, “The players really did make an impression not only on the families but the Lowe’s employees and the volunteers. They allowed them to forget about their problems for a few moments and that was worth more than any supplies we could have provided.”

Photo Credits: Feed The Children

Voter registration assistance

On a rainy day in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania NFLPA former players, AFL-CIO members, community activists, and community organizers got together for an event called My Vote My Right, to educate the public on the new voter ID laws instituted in Pennsylvania. There have been many studies on the effects of the new legislation on people’s ability to vote. According to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law,

“Studies show that as many as 11 percent of eligible voters do not have government-issued photo ID. That percentage is even higher for seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, low-income voters, and students. Many citizens find it hard to get government photo IDs, because the underlying documentation like birth certificates (the ID one needs to get ID) is often difficult or expensive to come by. At the same time, voter ID policies are far more costly to implement than many assume.”

Robin Cole, former starting linebacker and member of the Steelers Super Bowl XIII and XIV teams came out to volunteer and speak out to make sure that the citizens and fans of Pittsburgh were able to learn about the new restrictions and obtain the proper identification – things needed to make their voices heard in the upcoming presidential election.

Robin talked about playing in the great city of Pittsburgh, becoming a citizen of Pittsburgh, raising his family in Pittsburgh, and feeling the obligation to make sure that all of the fans knew their rights and helping them to be able to cast their vote. Steeler fans came out, not only to make sure they registered and had the proper ID, but also to take a picture with this Steeler great.

Nolan Harrison III (left) and Robin Cole pose with an organizer.

There were many stories that played out during the day. One was of a 74-year-old woman who had learned about the new voter ID restrictions from her pastor at her church. She said that her pastor told everyone in his congregation to go down to the event to learn if they had the proper credentials so they could cast their vote, as many have in previous elections, without incident.

Then there was the story of 80-year-old Mrs. Foreman. While she had her birth certificate, it did not have the raised seal, a new requirement in Pennsylvania. After different government employees sent Mrs. Forman – mind you at 80-years-old, back and forth from the government building to PenDOT, she was finally able to get the help she needed at My Vote My Right. The volunteers there made sure she had the  proper identification so she can vote, as she has for the last 30 years without issue.

At the end of the day, making sure that everyone who came out to the event got the proper education, and access to the right resources to get their Voter ID, so that they can cast their vote is the most important thing regardless of what side of the fence you stand on. On that rainy day in Pittsburgh volunteers answered the age old question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” with a collective “YES WE ARE!”

Photos courtesy of Nolan Harrison III 

Nolan Harrison directs a Monroe School student during a fitness activity at the school on September 6.

Of all the things that we get to do as former players in giving back to the community, in my opinion, the most fun is  giving time to the local community children. Last weekend, the NFLPA former players, as part of the NFLPA One Team One Community initiative, visited Monroe Elementary School in Oak Brook Illinois  for a day of fitness, fun, and football. The mission of the One Team One Community initiative is to improve the quality of life of the communities that support our players by encouraging healthy lifestyles, positive choices, teamwork and commitment to service.

I remember days of my elementary school at Heather Hill in Flossmoor Illinois where the gym teacher – to get all the children to pay attention and settle down – would call out the name of arguably the most famous Chicago Bear of all time – Walter Payton. When we heard his name we were conditioned to all stop what we were doing and sit down. Seeing the look in these children’s eyes as we entered the gym brought back those memories of wonderment and anticipation. They were not disappointed by the players (Alfred “Jitter” Fields (Chiefs, Saints), John Janata (Bears, Buccaneers), James Loving (Eagles), Anthony Parker (49ers, Raiders), Tim Tyrrell (Falcons, Rams, Bills, Steelers) and myself  (Raiders, Steelers and Redskins) who spoke to them about the benefits of good nutrition, physical fitness and paying attention to their teachers and school work.

The former players also shared personal stories with the children about what it was like for them to play in the NFL, as was asked by one bright little fourth-grader. John Janata, a former Chicago Bears offensive lineman told the kids about his choice of team, choosing the Bears over another team because his childhood hero growing up in Chicago was Dick Butkus. I shared my story of growing up in Chicago and attending games at Soldiers Field as a diehard Bears fan with my father. Then years later, how was special is was being able to bring my father down onto the football field with a press pass so he could watch and take pictures as I took on the Chicago Bears as a Los Angeles Raider –  in view of the same seats we had when I was younger.

The former players led the children out onto the field for some drills and some fun. The children ran through obstacle drills, and learned how to pass and catch the football. They also learned how to work together as a team, while competing  against each other in obstacle course races. The losing team joined me in some fun push-ups and they got a big kick out of trying to imitate the different variations I performed. To my great delight, I was even challenged by a fifth-grade boy to military push-ups. The future is bright for that young man! The session ended with, prizes, autographs, hugs and high-fives. A beautiful day of volunteerism the former players and children will not soon forget.

Photo credit: District 181