Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Lawrence leads meal relief effort for coronavirus first responders
With the coronavirus pandemic gripping the country, Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and a few of his Dallas Cowboys teammates have taken it upon themselves to do their part to help out and give back.
Lawrence organized a food truck pop-up for first responders and medical personnel at the Seago Pantry in Dallas on Sunday. The plan was to give away 500 meals around lunchtime to those who are helping the sick and keeping the community safe.
It was also part of a unified effort with his HotBoyz charitable organization, made up of Cowboys defensive teammates, to support local small businesses during the sudden economic downturn.
Cousins Maine lobster, Shivers Lunch Box and Seago Pantry provided the meals on Sunday with Lawrence, linebacker Jaylon Smith and defensive tackle Daniel Ross on hand taking pictures and offering thanks and support.
Lawrence credited his daughter Moriah for spurring him into action. “She was the one that really challenged me to start making a difference out in the community,” Lawrence said. “I wanted to make sure I’m still doing my part and give back to the people of Dallas. My daughter Moriah led the way. This is bigger than football. This is us stepping out and trying to be leaders and do our part.
Said Smith: “We are just here. We are encouraging everyone to stay home and stay safe. There are people in need, people who can’t eat. For us to provide that, it’s a great feeling. We are not sure how long this is going to affect the world. It’s something we will remember for the rest of our lives. We have to be proactive. The HotBoyz are here today trying to be proactive.”
Smith said that these trying times has created a certain amount of fear, but he advised people to stay at home and be safe. The fear issue is, perhaps, being felt by Lawrence’s family more acutely since his wife is pregnant. They are already taking a lot of precautions at home, he said.
“It’s scary knowing you are going to have a child born in these times, and you don’t know what is going on with the virus or how deadly it can be or the next step for us getting back to regular society,” Lawrence said. “You don’t know what is next to come. So it’s always scary.”
What’s next for Lawrence and HotBoyz is to continue having these pop-ups to support first responders and to aid local small family-owned companies that need the assistance.
Kanti Shetty, who owns Seago Pantry with her husband, and Ahmer Khan, owner of Cousins Maine Lobster, appreciated the efforts of Lawrence and Hotboyz because their businesses have suffered recently.
Lawrence is encouraging Cowboys fans and the public to help them support the local businesses by donating or purchasing gift cards for as low as $25 at www.gethotboyz.com.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 5:08 PM.
