By Lucas LaLonde, WBTW – GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WBTW) – Former South Carolina and NFL running back Marcus Lattimore scored in a different way Sunday -- bringing 25 kids who were hardest hit by the October floods on a shopping spree for the holidays.
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.
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Many people living in Georgetown County are still displaced -- months after the devastating flood waters receded.
As the cleanup continues, many families still are 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.
Said Lattimore: "I just want to bring awareness to what's really going on in Georgetown County."
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 No. 1 on that list," Lattimore said.
To raise awareness and help a little at the holidays, the Marcus Lattimore Foundation was able to bring area students out to a Wal-Mart. Each received a $120 gift card, a pair of Under Armour shoes and a gift bag from Wal-Mart.
Lattimore wanted to make sure they received gifts because, for many families, money reserved for presents is being used for basic 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 near the house, which currently is 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 pretty cool," Owens said with a laugh.
"Seeing them get what they want, seeing how happy they were. It's the most gratifying feeling you can have," Lattimore said.
To learn more about the Marcus Lattimore Foundation, text help21 to 58885.