Several Penn State football players helped West Shore Home on their annual Toys for Tots shopping spree Monday night at Target in State College.
The nine players gathered 192 gifts — from Nerf guns to Squishmallows and games — and shared laughs while filling their carts.
Here’s a look at the two-hour shopping spree:
Tony Rojas laughs as he and his Penn State football teammates help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots at Target in State College on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Ryan Barker browses a toy suggestion list as he and Penn State football teammates go on a shopping spree at Target in State College for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State football player Cooper Cousins loads his shopping cart with scooters as he helps West Shore Home shop for Toys For Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The Nittany Lions were given a budget provided by West Shore Home to buy toys for children who otherwise may go without. They initially had a $2,500 budget, but West Shore Home Public Relations Director Kirsten Page said that West Shore Home employees donated — as well as wide receiver Julian Fleming — to end up with a $4,200 budget.
Fleming said it was an important cause to put his own money toward.
“There’s a lot of kids who don’t have the opportunity to have amazing Christmases or even Christmases at all, so I think it’s a really big thing for us to be able to go out there and get whatever we feel is necessary, or whatever kids may want,” he said.
Penn State football players DaKarri Nelson and Julian Fleming debate which nerf guns to get during a shopping spree with West Shore Home for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State linebacker DaKarri Nelson sits in a shopping cart covered in toys as he and teammate Julian Fleming make their way through the aisles at Target in State College on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State defensive end Max Granville browses the sleds at Target during the shopping trip for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
West Shore Homes had Penn State football players help them go on a shopping spree for Toys for Tots at Target on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State football players Drew Shelton, Dominic Rulli and Julian Fleming compare toys as they help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State wide receiver Julian Fleming reaches for some squishmallows with teammate DaKarri Nelson as they help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Shopping carts were filled with gifts for all ages — scooters, pickleball sets, Squishmallows, Playdough and more. The perfect gift is always a football though, linebacker DaKarri Nelson said.
Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas browse the toddler section with teammates as they help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State’s Luke Reynolds debates which princess gifts to get as he and his teammates help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
With West Shore Home located in Mechanicsburg, the toys purchased will be distributed through Toys for Tots in that area.
Penn State football players compare their shopping carts as they help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State offensive lineman Cooper Cousins pushes his cart full of toys through Target during a shopping trip for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State football players Julian Fleming and Drew Shelton unload toys at the register as they help West Shore Home shop for Toys for Tots on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at Target. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State football players DaKarri Nelson, Julian Fleming, Drew Shelton and Dominic Rulli watch in anticipation as they toys they picked out for Toys for Tots are scanned at the checkout at Target on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State football players Julian Fleming, DaKarri Nelson, and Drew Shelton watch as the toys they picked out for Toys for Tots are scanned at the checkout at Target on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas pushes a cart full of gifts to out of Target after a shopping spree for Toys for Tots with West Shore Home on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
For the Centre/Mifflin County Toys for Tots, collection boxes are out now at more than 200 locations and will be pulled late next week in Centre County. Toys and food collected will be taken to the Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel on Dec. 13, and volunteers are still needed to help prepare the toys for transportation. For more information, visit lemont-pa.toysfortots.org.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
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