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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — For a third straight year, Bret and Jen Bielema picked up the bill giving 50 young families a financial boost of a $200 shopping spree at the Urbana Walmart through the YoungLives program.
They’ve had an incredible season on the field, but the opportunity to do this off the field, it just says so much about his (Bret Bielema’s) heart and the way that he reaches out,” YoungLives director Erin Watson said.
Illini football players like Kenenna Odeluga and Miles Scott, among many others, helped the moms select items.
“It’s just been a breath of fresh air,” Odeluga said.
“Just to interact with the mom, Aaliyah, with the baby. It’s just been amazing just to give back in this way,”
“Really help people that might need the help during this Christmas time and just know that they’re loved and and cherished.”
“I’m a new mom. My baby’s only three months, so it’s really helpful with, like, the expenses as far as diapers and wipes,” YoungLives mom Aaliyah Carter said.
Senor D-lineman and father of two Dennis Briggs Jr. knows the cost of raising a child firsthand.
“I’m really, really happy that Illinois does this,” Briggs said.
“There’s not a lot of teams that do this type of event for not even just the community, but for single moms that just need that help, that support.”
Briggs even took questions from teammates on what to buy.
An event like this is evidence of The Bielema’s passion for Champaign-Urbana.
“It just proves a testament to the slogan “FamILLy ” like it really is a family,” Scott said.
“We’re trying to do whatever we can not only for the people that we know, but the people that we don’t know as well.”