NFL player Kenny Yeboah visited The Parkesburg POINT Youth Center on Dec. 16 during the agency's Christmas gift distribution. He toured the facility, met with volunteers and also personally donated winterwear for families in need.

Welcoming Yeboah to The POINT was Amy Walton, program director, who pointed out the hundreds of toys that were wrapped and placed in bags ready to be given out.

"We have hundreds of kids that come to the youth center, (and parents) call in who need help with Christmas," she explained. "A lot of the parents ask for hygiene products and clothing, but we all like to provide gifts for the students. We are serving about 90 students this year."

Amy explained that volunteers deliver the gifts to parents in advance, allowing them to place the gifts under the tree for their children themselves. "We fill their orders and pray with them and encourage them for the new year," she said.

Yeboah, who has played tight end for the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions, said he wanted to be part of the Christmastime effort, noting that "giving back to the community is deeply personal" for him. "I just recently played with the Detroit Lions. I am home right now. I got injured, so I am out for the season," he noted while addressing volunteers and staff members at The POINT. "I wanted to do something for the community. I reached out to some people, and they connected me to this awesome thing that you are doing. It is amazing and special to see (all the gifts). This is an amazing thing that you're doing for the kids in need."

JB Sports Ventures, led by CEO Justin Brown, organized Yeboah's visit to The POINT. The agency is a community-focused sports and media organization that seeks to build partnerships between professional athletes and local nonprofits. Brown helped organize a fundraiser at The POINT in May, when Philadelphia Eagles player Brandon Graham was the guest speaker.

"(Yeboah) reached out to Justin and said that he wanted to give back and help out the community. Justin reached out to me because we worked together in the past," explained Dwayne Walton, executive director of The POINT.

"(The Christmas distribution) is a really big operation for us," he added. "We actually have to shut down the week before Christmas so we can put together the gifts for the families."

While at The POINT, Yeboah offered words of encouragement to the volunteers, some of whom spent time at The POINT during their school-age years and returned to volunteer. "Now you are back - giving back. That is amazing to see," he told the POINT alumni. "I just wanted to let you all know that I'm proud of you guys for doing the right thing and helping the community, because that's really what it's all about."

Yeboah also toured The POINT and visited its various rooms, including the youth sports room and Lexi's Art Room, which was named for a former POINT student who died in a car accident.

The POINT, located at 700 Main St., Parkesburg, is a faith-based center that provides mentorship, after-school programs, free meals, leadership development programs and a safe environment for youths ages 8 to 18. Many of the young people it serves come from households experiencing economic challenges.

"We are grateful for Kenny's heart for service," Dwayne said. "The POINT is dedicated to serving youth and families who need support the most, and partnerships like this help us extend that mission even further."

Yeboah also visited the Octorara Area Food Cupboard, which is located next to The POINT, and was given a tour of the facility by director Cherie Myers.

To learn more about the Parkesburg POINT, visit www.parkesburgpoint.com or http://www.facebook.com/parkesburg.point.