Simpson County’s own NFL stars KhaDarel Hodge of the Browns and Martinas Rankin of the Kansas City Chiefs served as a blessing to others as they gave back to families of Simpson County this holiday season.
Hodge and Rankin partnered with Open Field Sports and Rho Iota Zeta to help 10 families in Simpson County purchase Christmas gifts and other items.
Martina Rankin said, “Be a blessing to someone this Holiday Season. Proud to link with my brother Khadarel Hodge in an effort to give back this Holiday Season in the county that helped mold us into the men we are today.”
The two players donated a significant amount of money that was used to help families in need. Sandrena Lofton of Rho Iota Zeta said it was important to the young men that the families were able to pick the things they wanted. The Zetas along with members of the Mendenhall Tigers and Magee Trojans football teams served as Santa’s helpers and assisted the families as they shopped for gifts in Wal-Mart on December 23.
The generous donation made by the two players was able to assist one family that recently lost everything in a house fire, and another family of six children that recently lost their mother.
Hodge and Rankin are both young men of high character and their decision to be a blessing will have a lasting effect on these families well beyond the holidays.
Hodge said, “Blessed to be a blessing, I knew that growing up! For the city that raised me and the county that made me, we’re coming back with a blessing!”
