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Habitat for Humanity work day a reunion for Hurts, Smith family
Hurts first met Andrew Smith not at the construction site Saturday but at the āA Night to Shineā prom event for special needs kids in February.
Alabama QB Jalen Hurts and Donna Smith (Photo: Charlie Potter, 247Sports)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Several Alabama football players participated in a Habitat for Humanity work day on Saturday as the Nickās Kids Foundation and Habitat for Humanity continued their work toward completing their 17th house together.
The house, which was the third built on Juanita Drive in Tuscaloosa, represented the Crimson Tideās 17th national championship victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in early January, and will be presented to the Smith family upon its completion.
And for Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, Saturday was a special morning.
āIt means a lot,ā Hurts said. āJust doing things to help the community, trying to use the platform that we have. I know itās a great opportunity for us to get an opportunity to do these things. So, just to give back, be a blessing to others is great for us.ā
The Tide players, head coach Nick Saban and workers from Habitat for Humanity joined forces to build a house for Donna Smith and her two children. Her son Andrew, 19, has spina bifida and is confined to a power wheelchair. Therefore, the 17th house will be handicap accessible, which will āopen up a whole new level of independence forā Andrew, his mother said.
But Saturdayās work day was a reunion for Hurts and the Smith family.
Hurts first met Andrew not at the construction site Saturday but at the āA Night to Shineā prom event for special needs kids in February. So, being able to work on a shed and other aspects of the Smithsā new home was a special treat for the Alabama quarterback.
āYeah, everyone had smiling faces, everyone was excited,ā said Hurts, reflecting on his time at prom. āGoing to the prom, I didnāt initially know what it was all about. I had a friend that said, āDo you want to come to this with me?ā I ended up going and realized what it was and that it was Tim Tebowās event. It was a great experience.ā
Hurts was one of at least 14 players helping out during the early-morning hours.
He was joined by linebackers Christian Miller, Anfernee Jennings, Jamey Mosley and Joshua McMillon, offensive linemen Ross Pierschbacher, Lester Cotton and Matt Womack, defensive linemen Raekwon Davis and Isaiah Buggs, wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III, tight end Hale Hentges and safety Keaton Anderson.
Another group of Alabama players will arrive at the house to work later this afternoon.
āWeāre so proud of our players for taking their Saturday to come out here and work for us,ā Terry Saban said. āAnd itās not just the hours, itās not just the sweat, itās more that theyāre role model a for the community and a role model for other young people to maybe come out here and do the same thing. This house represents, to me, a lot more than that gold trophy does.
āItās a culmination of a lot of hard work since last August to now. Weāre already in winter conditioning for the next one (laughs). But to me, this is the gold trophy -- to help the Smith family. Donna and Megan, who are both nursing students. They have nighttime jobs, theyāre a hardworking family. ā¦ It will change their life.ā
Hurts, Buggs, Miller and Jennings worked together to build a shed in the backyard Saturday morning. Saban even rolled up his sleeves to create the foundation for it alongside his players.
Although receiving a handicap accessible home from the Nickās Kids Foundation is special to Donna and her children, having a chance to interact with the players and seeing them work together to build that home is something that was a real treat.
āThis is absolutely amazing,ā Donna Smith said. āI had told the guys this morning, the football players, thereās very little that we do and decisions that we make that donāt have longtime rewards or consequences. And this is a longtime reward from the football team, and we are just absolutely grateful. Itās overwhelming. Absolutely overwhelming.ā
Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).
Hurts first met Andrew Smith not at the construction site Saturday but at the āA Night to Shineā prom event for special needs kids in February.
Alabama QB Jalen Hurts and Donna Smith (Photo: Charlie Potter, 247Sports)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Several Alabama football players participated in a Habitat for Humanity work day on Saturday as the Nickās Kids Foundation and Habitat for Humanity continued their work toward completing their 17th house together.
The house, which was the third built on Juanita Drive in Tuscaloosa, represented the Crimson Tideās 17th national championship victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in early January, and will be presented to the Smith family upon its completion.
And for Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, Saturday was a special morning.
āIt means a lot,ā Hurts said. āJust doing things to help the community, trying to use the platform that we have. I know itās a great opportunity for us to get an opportunity to do these things. So, just to give back, be a blessing to others is great for us.ā
The Tide players, head coach Nick Saban and workers from Habitat for Humanity joined forces to build a house for Donna Smith and her two children. Her son Andrew, 19, has spina bifida and is confined to a power wheelchair. Therefore, the 17th house will be handicap accessible, which will āopen up a whole new level of independence forā Andrew, his mother said.
But Saturdayās work day was a reunion for Hurts and the Smith family.
Hurts first met Andrew not at the construction site Saturday but at the āA Night to Shineā prom event for special needs kids in February. So, being able to work on a shed and other aspects of the Smithsā new home was a special treat for the Alabama quarterback.
āYeah, everyone had smiling faces, everyone was excited,ā said Hurts, reflecting on his time at prom. āGoing to the prom, I didnāt initially know what it was all about. I had a friend that said, āDo you want to come to this with me?ā I ended up going and realized what it was and that it was Tim Tebowās event. It was a great experience.ā
Hurts was one of at least 14 players helping out during the early-morning hours.
He was joined by linebackers Christian Miller, Anfernee Jennings, Jamey Mosley and Joshua McMillon, offensive linemen Ross Pierschbacher, Lester Cotton and Matt Womack, defensive linemen Raekwon Davis and Isaiah Buggs, wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III, tight end Hale Hentges and safety Keaton Anderson.
Another group of Alabama players will arrive at the house to work later this afternoon.
āWeāre so proud of our players for taking their Saturday to come out here and work for us,ā Terry Saban said. āAnd itās not just the hours, itās not just the sweat, itās more that theyāre role model a for the community and a role model for other young people to maybe come out here and do the same thing. This house represents, to me, a lot more than that gold trophy does.
āItās a culmination of a lot of hard work since last August to now. Weāre already in winter conditioning for the next one (laughs). But to me, this is the gold trophy -- to help the Smith family. Donna and Megan, who are both nursing students. They have nighttime jobs, theyāre a hardworking family. ā¦ It will change their life.ā
Hurts, Buggs, Miller and Jennings worked together to build a shed in the backyard Saturday morning. Saban even rolled up his sleeves to create the foundation for it alongside his players.
Although receiving a handicap accessible home from the Nickās Kids Foundation is special to Donna and her children, having a chance to interact with the players and seeing them work together to build that home is something that was a real treat.
āThis is absolutely amazing,ā Donna Smith said. āI had told the guys this morning, the football players, thereās very little that we do and decisions that we make that donāt have longtime rewards or consequences. And this is a longtime reward from the football team, and we are just absolutely grateful. Itās overwhelming. Absolutely overwhelming.ā
Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).
