COPPERAS COVE — The holiday season for 25 children from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Texas just got a little more expensive after they were each given a $200 budget to shop at Walmart in Copperas Cove.
The shopping event was in aid of the Robert Griffin III Foundation, an organization named after the football quarterback who played for Copperas Cove, won the Heisman Trophy at Baylor and went on to the NFL.
Working for ESPN, the quarterback’s mother, Jacqueline Griffin was in town to share in the joy of the season.
“That smile means everything to me and watching them shop and how happy they are to choose whatever they want and not have to worry about paying for it,” said Jacqueline Griffin, president. of the foundation.
In groups of two – and one group of three – the children walked around with the staff using toys, video games and clothes.
Others curse, curse and exclaim things like “OMG” as they pull boxes off the shelves. Employees were there to track their budgets. Many children jumped into action, grabbing things that caught their eye. Others were more careful about what they found, choosing small and unusual items.
About a month ago, the children were chosen based on need, according to Tiana Quick, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Texas.
However, not all children think about them.
“Every year, I’m humbled by the things they say,” Quick said. “They say they want to buy gifts for their siblings or their grandmother or one of their relatives. So, it touches my heart and we are very grateful for the RG3 Foundation and that we were chosen to do this because it helps so many families.”
This is the second time the foundation has offered a shopping spree. Griffin expanded on what Quick said as an example from last year.
“We had a small child last year that all the gifts he bought for himself he wanted to give to other children,” she said. “So, I think when you have these kinds of events and people like Robert who grew up in this community who come back and give back, they teach these kids the importance of giving back and being generous.”
