ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. — An NFL punter helped South Florida students kick off the upcoming school year Saturday in Royal Palm Beach.
Chicago Bears punter Pat O'Donnell invited families for a socially distanced back-to-school event at Christ Fellowship Church.
O'Donnell, who is a native of Wellington and attended Palm Beach Central High School, was planning on holding a football camp.
He wanted to do something to enable kids to still stay active and practice football drills safely on their own during the pandemic.
"For me to be able to do this, even though that it is a little bit different this year, when we have a drive-thru and backpack giveaway deal, I think that the kids would appreciate it," O'Donnell said. "I mean, in times like this when they can get out and still actually do a camp."
More than 100 backpacks were distributed, each with a football, headphones and resistance bands included.
