EAST HANOVER, New Jersey (WABC) — Members of the New York Jets provided a group of kids with holiday shopping spree they will likely never forget.
There were a lot of very big, green elves at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in East Hanover on Tuesday night.
Eleven football players from the Jets took 23 excited children shopping.
The lucky kids were selected from an after-school program in Brooklyn. Each kid was given a $250 gift card. Some went way over budget, but no one was counting pennies on Tuesday night.
“It’s an awesome experience for them and us to see them get whatever they want,” said Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert. “They don’t get that often. It’s a beautiful thing. It makes you feel great this time of year.”
Team co-captain Marcelino McCrary-Ball led by example.
“It’s always good to give back when you can and put joy on someone else’s face,” he said.
While it’s fun to “shop until you drop,” many of the young recipients were also givers, using part of their budget for their mothers.
“I don’t want to be selfish. I have all that money. I could buy anything. So, I decided to buy it for my mom,” said 8-year-old Carley Ducille.
They say it’s better to give than to receive, and that’s what Eyewitness News saw play out tonight.
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