Former NFL player Jaylon Smith partners with Blessings in a Backpack at Fairfield Elementary School
Story by Justin Lemke, 21alivenews.com
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker, Jaylon Smith, returned to his hometown to partner with Blessings in a Backpack to give some students a Valentine’s Day surprise.
The Blessings in a Backpack Program Coordinator, Jama Ross, says it was amazing to listen to Smith talk to the kids.
“How incredible is it that they get to meet an actual NFL linebacker, and one that they can really look up to, and say this is a guy that came from here, this could be you one day reaching for your dreams,” Ross says.
Jama says bringing Smith along was an awesome experience and hopes the kids took away a good message.
“You deserve to dream big, you deserve to have goals, you deserve to want wonderful things for yourself and look here’s someone who’s been able to accomplish those things, that could be you.
You are absolutely valid and completely worthy of all of these great things so having someone come in and say look I was able to do it and so can you, I just think that’s going to speak volumes.”
The kids got “believe bags”, which had some Valentine’s Day snacks and a handmade card that Smith could sign.
A couple of the kids say meeting Smith means a lot to them.
“It means a lot because with his story I know that I can accomplish anything if I put my mind to it,” David Mondragon says.
