LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A star University of Kentucky football player is giving back this holiday season.

On Tuesday afternoon, Deone Walker, UK’s outstanding defensive lineman on the football field, took time out of his busy school and sports schedule to hand out Thanksgiving dinners.

The event, called “Deone Walker’s first annual Thanksgiving drive,” was held at Copper Roux on South Broadway.

Walker’s big Thanksgiving drive supported about 100 families associated with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. He connected with the organization when he first came to Lexington three years ago. Walker had a Big Brother himself while growing up in Detroit. Now, he wants to give back to those associated with the program by doing a Thanksgiving drive.

“It’s really like a full circle moment,” Walker said. “Like I was in it, now I’m helping other people be a part of that.”

A fellow college student is among those who got a meal. Diamonique Mitchell, with her daughter, two-year-old Bella, says Walker’s generosity helps ease the stress of cooking a meal and shows Walker is more than a football player.

“It just speaks more about college students because I’m a college student, too. I graduated with my master’s degree in May, so it just shows personality outside of being a college student, like who we are as a person,” Mitchell said.

Bayou Bluegrass Catering donated the meals valued at $8,000.

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