HAMLET — Melvin Ingram and sister Callie Ingram tag-teamed their foundations to give away free turkeys early Wednesday morning at Memorial Park.
“We started at 9 a.m. and we gave out 150 turkeys,” Callie Ingram said. “They were gone in about an hour and fifteen minutes — and that’s at the most.”
The Learning House, Callie Ingram’s foundation and Melvin’s Mission Possible hosted the event.
“Melvin wasn’t there unfortunately, because he is actually working,” she said. “He’s in San Diego, but will be playing the Tennessee Titans this week, but he was excited, he was super excited. I texted him at 1 o’clock and I told him all the turkeys were gone. He was so excited that he was able to give back. Last year, I did it by myself and this year, he tagged along and did it with me. His foundation and mine, we pulled together to get it done.”
Wednesday marked the second year of the turkey giveaway.
Melvin Ingram, a native of Hamlet, is a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers but makes a point of visiting his home town at various times of the year to sponsor events for his community.
“He does a fun day every year in June,” Callie Ingram said. “And that will continue for as long as we can do it. Melvin also builds libraries for low-income kids who don’t have the good fortune to have books in San Diego. Last year for Christmas in San Diego, he provided gifts and dinner for families and kids. And he does Stuff the Bus before the start of the school year. This year, he did not, but last year he and Dannell Ellerbe actually teamed up. They matched what was collected.”
She added that Richmond County Schools had the second-highest donation rate for Stuff the Bus that year, second only to Mecklenburg County.
“And we served every homeless child on the Richmond County Social Services list with books, bookbags stuffed with supplies, and hairdos. There were so many hair salons, local barbers and hair salons that helped. I think there was one hair salon out of Charlotte that came here and helped.”
Callie Ingram said she is grateful for Suzanne Hudson and the Richmond Senior High School Beta Club, who volunteer to assist with every event.
“We were so excited that we did it toady,” she said. “Just to see the faces, it was amazing. It was just indescribable.”
Asked about her brother’s chances of getting a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal for himself, Callie Ingram said he definitely will.
“My mom (Nancy) is actually going to cook for him and some of the other players,” she said. “She is actually in San Diego with him and my sister Monique, so they will get to have Thanksgiving dinner.”
The Ingrams thanked Chargers team mates Melvin Gordon and Casey Hayward for making donations to this year’s turkey giveaway.
“And also, Team Super Melvin President Derrick Behringer made a donation,” Callie Ingram said. “And special thanks to Walmart. That’s where we got the turkeys from. They delivered them and everything. It was funny, too, because it was cold this morning. It was a good time, just sitting out there with them and feeling the joy, it’s unexplainable.”
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @meloniemclaurin.