USC football players join families in need for shopping trip at Walmart

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Tuesday ‘Family Promise of the Midlands’ a nonprofit partnered with the Dimarco family for the 9th annual “Shop with the Jocks”

More than a dozen University of South Carolina football players joined in on the gift-giving with each family as they shopped throughout Walmart. Families were given a $400 gift card and were accompanied by a player to find the gifts they wanted to buy.

“Its beautiful to see the smiles on our families. For many of us, it’s burdensome, we are so busy to find gifts, and shop early, but for those families you see those blessings come through. Players are excited, its just beautiful,” said Jeffrey Armstrong, the Executive Director of Family Promise.

Families were able to pick whatever they wanted at the store. Jakai Buckhanon said he was thankful to get the experience.

“It was really amazing, it was really fun. Oscar really helped me pick out some good gifts for the holiday season and I honestly enjoyed myself and I’ve been looking forward to this day for a while,” Buckhanon said.

The Gamecocks were given the opportunity to join in on Tuesday’s event. Maurice Brown II told WIS he chose to come because it was important to him to give back this season.

“That’s the thing about Christmas, bringing all the families together and so just seeing all the families happy and with smiles on their faces makes me happy seeing other families happy,” Brown II said.

Oscar Adaway III, who was partnered with Buckhanon for the shopping trip, told WIS he enjoyed helping Buckhanon find gifts for himself and it was worth it seeing his excitement at the end.

“It was a great time to give back to the community right now especially at this point of time in the year with Christmas right around the corner so its good,” Buckhanon said.

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