WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — Take a drive down Main Street in Williamsville, and it’s easy to see who the most popular guy in town is.
Trey Young is always right there — on a good day or bad — holding up a sign that says “free hugs” and offering them to walkers and drivers that pass him by.
He’s been doing it for almost four years.
Residents in Williamsville embrace Young, both literally and figuratively. He’s become a mainstay of many people’s commutes.
“It was actually a really good hug,” said Jordan Zachritz. “He's had a lot of practice.”
But that’s not the way it’s always been for Young.
Growing up in Williamsville wasn’t easy for him, and it didn’t take him long to realize he was different.
“There were teachers saying I was gonna be a C-D student. Doctors were saying I wasn't supposed to talk correctly. I wasn't supposed to think correctly,” Young said. “I could be saying hi to someone, and they don't respond, or it's like, ‘Who wants to hang out with him?’”
It would have been easy for Young to turn his back on Williamsville.
But instead, he decided to embrace it.
By offering free hugs, Young said he tries to make someone’s day better and show them that they’re loved.
“I don't want to see someone go through what I went through,” he said.
He also took on the role as a junior youth pastor at Zion Dominion Global Ministries to share his love for people with the next generation.
After years of giving back to his community in Williamsville and making them feel loved, the community has recently decided to honor Young in return.
Earlier this month, Sweet Jenny’s Ice Cream announced its newest flavor: “Free Hugs Guy-Hearts and Hugs.” The chocolate and vanilla ice cream swirled together with chopped-up Hershey hug kisses is a tribute to Young both in the name and by giving back to the community as well. The ice cream sales from his flavor help benefit his children’s youth ministry group.
“I can actually say people are buying my own ice cream,” Young said. “If you're a parent, don't give up on your child … because later in life, your daughter, your son is gonna achieve so many things and is gonna prove so many people wrong.”
Williamsville wasn’t ready for Trey Young at one point.
But now, they can’t hold on tight enough.