In today’s episode of This Hits Different, Shelby Cassesse tells the story of Quinton Martin, who gave back to kids in his community during the holidays.
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Quinton Martin helped deliver a state title to Belle Vernon last month. And to finish a remarkable year, he's making sure local kids have a Christmas to remember.
"Their life hasn't always been perfect in the situation they're in," Martin says. "But they deserve to be happy, they deserve presents, they deserve that experience as a young kid, at least."
Though the five star recruit has a big future ahead, he remembers days that weren't always so bright. Days like some local kids might be facing now.
"But I never forgot where I started from," he says. "I didn't always have this. I wasn't always known as a good athlete. I was a nobody at the time. People forget about those people. That will always have a place in my heart, for sure."
He started saving his money over the summer, earning a few dollars here and there.
"I pretty much saved up money from my birthday, helping neighbors, cutting grass and stuff,” he says. "I cut a lot of grass this summer."
It started as a way for him to just have some extra cash, but soon realized it would be better served going somewhere else.
"I wasn't spending it on anything, so me and my team decided, 'why don't you do something nice, something that's for the community to help your image and do what you feel is right in your heart,'" he adds.
Working with the River Fund, Quinton paid for toys and organized a drive for kids in need.
The event was in collaboration with the Westmoreland Community Action and CYS.
"We brought the toys," he explains. "It was a big group of toys and then we loaded it in there. We took pictures and made it public."
The five-star recruit says it's just the start for him. As his platform grows, he expects his contribution to the community to grow with it.
"I just want to do things out of the kindness of my heart and what will make the world better," he says. "Not just my community, but the world."