Growing up in a community plays a large impact on the way you view the world for a portion of your life, I believe as we move up in the world this helps shape us. Living in a place that allows immense opportunities not only in highly valuable places such as hospitals and schools but also around day-to-day places in town this creates an atmosphere between residents that stands out like no others. Nothing stands out more to me in a community greater than my home.
I am from Angola, New York, a small town about 25 minutes outside of the city of Buffalo. This is a small community compared to other subparts of the city, but I believe the difference embraced in each town conveys a larger sense of individuality than most. It’s like everyone coming together with undenied loyalty and love for this place brings in their individual differences. Everyone who resides in this city puts a piece of their heart into it. It may seem a little crazy, and it may be one of the only places where residents love their area code so extremely that they have store which had been named after it, but I promise it compares to no other (and we wear that 716 sweater with pride).
One of Buffalo’s most definable traits is the love expressed between everyone who resides, taking the community to a whole other level, sometimes more than others. This city is quoted as the “city of good neighbors” and during these last months, it has been greatly expressed.
Buffalo has some terrible weather. The snow comes as it pleases. When faced with a snowstorm during the Thanksgiving season, many were left without heat, power and food (the last of the situations you wished to be placed in during the holiday season). People from all over the city drove to help rescue and deliver necessities to those in need even during severe weather conditions placing themselves at risk. This act of courtesy delivered among neighbors saved many individuals’ lives.
Another time this community came together greatly is in recent time after Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, number three, passed out and was placed in critical condition minutes into a game. This greatly affected other players emotionally, leaving them in tears on the field. We are a huge sports city and everyone knows Buffalo’s love for the Bills. So, fans was also greatly impacted. In response to this tragic situation, fans stayed outside the hospital where he was placed all night, donated thousands to his fundraiser and helped create endless awareness post-recovery on the importance of learning CPR. Buffalo’s community embraces extreme loyalty that stands out tremendously making home not only feel like home but also like no place other.
This loyalty not only is what makes my community so ideal Buffalo is also widely known for a variety of other things ranging from glorious beaches to amazing food. First off as we already mentioned the Bills, Buffalo takes nothing more seriously. Football season is a dedicated time. No one makes plans for Sundays because you will be up tailgating by 10 a.m., no matter the weather rain shine, or snow. No matter how many times we lose those fans are just as dedicated and loyal every year.
Secondly, we are the home of the chicken wings, I never even realized how much our wings stand out compared to various locations, After moving to college and not having wings for a great minute, I was in a hurry to get them as soon as break began. What I can say about 716 chicken wings is that the flavor and texture are perfection.
Last but not least, another huge piece of our community we are widely known for is extreme winter weather. Mother nature does not take it easy when it comes to the snow in Buffalo. You can go to bed with three inches on the ground and wake up snowed in your house for the next three days. It goes from one to one hundred in the matter of a blink of an eye, but we love it.
I choose to write a piece about my home because I’m constantly consumed with this message of being “the city of good neighbors,” as one expressed to me recently that we as a community truly take consideration and pride in our home and embrace fellow residents living there, creating an undefinable community.