Fighting Irish football takes local children shopping

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind – Notre Dame Football goes shopping with the children for Christmas.

Local children from the Pokagon band of Potawatomi and the Boys and Girls club of Saint Joe County had their Christmas wishes, come true today.

It was all part of the shop with a player program with the Notre Dame football team.

Santa got some help from some leprechauns today as the Notre Dame football team made Christmas come early for more than 100 local children.

"Marcus Freeman came out and go to announce to the kids exactly what they were going to be doing today and they were just ecstatic. lots of screams, lots of excitement," said St. Joseph County Boys and Girls Club CEO Jacqueline Kronk.

"We had a team meeting before we came over here and I said listen, every one of you are going to be LeBron James to these young people," said Head Coach Marcus Freeman.

Each kid was matched with a football player or two and they were handed a gift card and let loose in the store. From toys and games and footballs of course to gifts for mom and dad and loved ones, too.

Some kids even got food and drinks. There were no rules, just fun.

"This is awesome. It's a chance to really be one with your community and make sure everybody understands what's really important," Freeman added.