EDUCATION

Davis delivers

Panthers’ LB Davis helps volunteers equip kids with school supplies

Eric Wildstein
ewildstein@gastongazette.com
Carolinas Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis helps distributes school supplies to fill the 250 bookbags that were given out free to school kids Saturday afternoon at the Phillips Center on Echo Lane in Gastonia. [Mike Hensdill/The Gaston Gazette]

Less than 24 hours after leading his team to victory over the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers’ veteran linebacker Thomas Davis arrived in Gastonia to deliver school supplies to children.

On Saturday, Davis and his nonprofit Defending Dreams Foundation handed out some 250 backpacks and school supply kits at no charge to kids most in need from the area near the Phillips Center, where the giveaway was held. Helping Davis were family, friends, Gastonia Mayor Walker Reid, and representatives from Power 98 FM, who helped to organize the giveaway.

As recipients lined up outside, Davis noticed that not all the supplies the foundation ordered to giveaway showed up. So he made an impromptu trip to Walmart to bring back enough for everyone.

“Me and my wife, when we go and do the stuff that we do with our foundation, especially throughout the Christmas season we go and we do all the shopping on our own. So we have a pretty good feel for Walmart and we just know how to go in get the job done and get back out,” said Davis. “We didn’t have enough supplies when we showed up today so we made sure that we didn’t send anyone home empty-handed today.”

While Davis ponders retirement sometime down the road, he says he’s not retiring from events like this to help out the local community.

“I feel like giving back to the community is a given for me now,” said Davis. “When you look at the Charlotte community and this entire area they truly embrace me as a person, as a family man and as a football player, so I’m definitely going to continue to give back to those that have given me so much.”

Along with the school supplies, Davis also bought 60 pizzas to make sure everyone went home with a slice to eat.

You can reach Eric Wildstein at 704-869-1828 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteEric.