High school football players team up with kids for shopping spree at Target

Football players from all over the state shed their pads Thursday morning to spread a little Christmas cheer by taking 44 elementary school students shopping at Target in Myrtle Beach.

“We started this a number of years ago, and we kind of piggybacked with people here at the beach that were doing something similar to this,” said Keith Richardson, co-coordinator of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl, a North-South high school all-star football game. “In a short time that fell through,” Richardson said, “and we just continued to do it.”

Each student was paired with two football players, one from the North squad and one from the South squad who are in town this week for the all-star game, shopped for much-needed items for themselves and their families. The players were given a $150 Target gift card to help the students with items on their wish lists.

North Myrtle Beach quarterback Ramsey Lewis enjoyed hanging out with the kids, even if he wasn’t sure what to buy.

“I’m paired up with a little girl, you know I never bought any girl stuff before,” Lewis said. “We’re getting Barbie dolls and coats and lip gloss and all kinds of stuff like that, but it’s a fun experience. She’s a nice little girl, and I’m just glad to be helping out the kids.”

The game is set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Myrtle Beach High School’s Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. The shopping spree gives players a chance to give back and help children in need.

“What we’re trying to do with our game is to make it more than a game,” Richardson said. “We’re hoping that these kids, these players, are seeing the benefit of helping other people.”