ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Whenever the Buffalo Bills are playing at Highmark Stadium, hundreds of cars park and tailgate at the Wings Meeting Place on California Road. It's an opportunity to share the mission of giving hope one flight at a time.
"That's the biggest thing about here, people learning about what we do," said Joe DeMarco, founder & volunteer pilot with Wings Flight of Hope. "I always say every time there is a function here, if we have one person learn about our service, you can't really put a price on that."
For 20 years, DeMarco has been in the pilot seat for more than 6,000 flights, helping lift spirits and transport patients and their families who need to travel for medical care.
"What people don't realize is if you need an organ in Boston or Pittsburgh, if you're not (within) a three-hour drive, you have to live there," DeMarco said. "So you can't live in Buffalo and expect to get a heart, liver, or lungs in Boston. So we let people have as much normalcy as they have being at home."
With each journey there's a story to be told.
"The majority are happy stories," DeMarco said. "And when someone passes, at least they did all they could do. Sometimes people go to two, three, four different places to try and find the best care they can get."
Wings Flights of Hope has around 16 volunteer pilots who offer air transport for patients of all ages for free. These trips have changed many lives, DeMarco said -- even his own in a way.
"It changed my life because I was one of those people that I was miserable if I didn't get enough work done," DeMarco said. "Then when you see people who just want to breathe, walk, swallow, the simple things. There's so many people that just want what you take for granted, so you don't take things for granted anymore."
Wings Flights of Hope relies on donations and fundraising. DeMarco owns the "Wings Meeting Place" located at 3964 California Rd. in Orchard Park where they hold events, weddings and fundraisers, which all helps get the word out about their mission. When the Buffalo Bills play at home, fans can show their support by paying $30 for parking and joining their tailgate.
"We have the room here. For me, I want to get as many people as we can get here if they learn about what we do," DeMarco said.
For anyone who is interested in learning more about requesting a flight, click here. To donate, click here, or for more information on how to become a volunteer pilot, click here.
