GEORGETOWN, SC (WBTW) – Former Gamecock and NFL running back Marcus Lattimore scored in a different way on Sunday bringing 25 kids who were hardest hit by the floods in October on a shopping spree for the holiday’s.
Since injuries cut his career short, the football star has made it his mission to give back to those less fortunate with his foundation and he wanted to make sure people remember those still cleaning up from the flood.
Many people living in Georgetown County are still displaced, months after the devastating flood waters have gone down.
As the clean up continues many families are still months away from being able to go back home.
It’s a situation some flood victims say has been forgotten by the larger community.
“Right after the flood we had news crews just flooding us, now everybody’s just left us alone and we need help,” said a mother of one of the children on the shopping spree.
“I just want to bring awareness to whats really going on in Georgetown County,” said Lattimore.
Lattimore is not from the area, he grew up four hours away in Spartanburg; but he met with the state’s Director of Disaster Recovery to see which areas were most at risk of having a slow recovery.
“And Andrews was number one on that list,” said Lattimore.
To raise awareness and help a little at the holiday’s, the Marcus Lattimore Foundation was able to bring area students out to Walmart. Each received a $120 gift card, a pair of Under Armor shoes and a gift bag from Walmart.
Lattimore wanted to make sure they got gifts because for many families, money for presents is now going to life’s necessities.
“We had to pay for a trash dumpster and all that; and still have a light bill when there’s no lights,” explained Jermey Owens from Andrews.
Owens says his house was flooded to the second floor windows, and they have to live in a trailer as the house is currently gutted. He said it will take months before he and his parents can move back in.
For Owens, the shopping spree was more than just filling carts, “I got to meet Marcus Lattimore which was was pretty cool (laughs)”
“Seeing them get what they want, seeing how happy they were. It’s the most gratifying feeling you can have,” said Lattimore.
If you’d like to learn more about the Marcus Lattimore Foundatuion text help21 to 58885.
