Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - As the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens get ready to face off in the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday, churches from both communities are competing in a challenge of their own, the "Playoff Food Drive Challenge."
Reverend Mark Breese with Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, one of the food drive beneficiaries, says whoever gets the most donations will be declared the winner.
"All of the donated food will go to food pantries in the local cities that the churches regularly support. It's kind of a win-win all around, especially for Buffalo, because we will win. That's how it's all going to turn out, but it's all nice and friendly and there's no challenges, there's no smack being talked here. It's just better to accept the reality that the bills are the best," jokingly stated Rev. Breese in an interview with WBEN.
The competition builds on a tradition started during the 2024 AFC Championship, when Kansas City Churches challenged Baltimore's Christian Temple Church (Disciples of Christ) and other churches to a food drive competition. With the Bills hosting the Ravens on Sunday, Baltimore's Churches extended the tradition to WNY.
"Last year's challenge with Kansas City created incredible buzz and successfully restocked local food pantry shelves after the holidays," stated Rev. Dr. Callaway, Co-Pastor of Christian Temple Church in Catonsville, Maryland. "Now that our mighty Ravens will be flocking together to head up to the cold of Buffalo, we would like to issue the same challenge to our Bills friends."
Participating churches in both regions will be collecting food items through Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20. Rev. Breese says any non-perishable and food stable items will be accepted, as long as they're not expired.
"Canned vegetables, soup, tuna, canned sauces, canned meats, like the tuna or ham, or whatever. Those kind of items, then dry goods that are shelf stable, like, you know, pasta, rice, some of the pre-prepared like scallop potato, stuff like that we give out as well.," explained Rev. Breese.
The Niagara Falls donation locations and times are:
Bethany Missionary Baptist Church (2002 Forest Ave., Niagara Falls)
- Saturday, Jan. 18th: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST
- Sunday, Jan. 19th: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST
- Monday, Jan. 20th: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST
Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church (166 59th St., Niagara Falls)
- Friday, Jan. 17th: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST
- Sunday, Jan. 19th: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST (additional donations accepted via church office entrance drop box)
Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church (1750 Tennessee Ave., Niagara Falls)
- Saturday Jan. 18th: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST
- Sunday Jan. 19th: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST
True Bethel Baptist Church (2820 Michigan Ave., Niagara Falls)
- Contact church directly for donation times