Deshuan Watson scores again, and the crowd goes wild.
The Houston Texans’ two-time Pro Bowl quarterback provided the funds to purchase meals for first responders, including the emergency room staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, in his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, on Tuesday.
According to Nathan Berg of the Gainesville Times, Free Chapel pastor Michael Thurmond received a call from Watson earlier in the week about how he could help his hometown.
“We just kind of put our heads together and decided we need to help the people who are on the front lines, who are out there who don’t get to go home for lunch,” Thurmond said. “The nurses, the doctors, policemen and firemen. Those guys.”
Watson then partnered with Longstreet Cafe owner Tim Bunch to provide lunches for first responders and emergency room staff through Friday.
“That’s just who Deshaun is,” Bunch said. “He is a lot better person than he is a football player.”
Watson set Georgia high school football records while under center for the Gainesville Red Elephants, including 13,077 career passing yards and 155 career passing touchdowns. The former Clemson Tiger continues to give back to his community beyond just the measure of his high school stats.
“He has never really forgotten his roots, and he’s never forgotten those people who have helped him get to where he is today,” Gainesville Police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said. “We do greatly appreciate that. It really means a lot to us.”
Though COVID-19 may have impacted normal life and has cast a super cell of anxiety over the healthcare system and the populace as a whole, the challenge isn’t too big for Watson to help out.
“It’s a blessing all the way around, and hopefully it inspires other athletes, leaders, businesspeople to follow suit,” said Thurmond. “We can’t do everything, but we can all do something.”
[vertical-gallery id=47435]