A group of Oregon State football players broke away from dead week Wednesday night to go shopping for families in need. The football team adopted two families this holiday season and together as a team pitched in money to buy them Christmas presents, tools, and clothes to make their holiday season a little brighter.

OSU starting quarterback Marcus McMaryion led a cart down the aisle the way he led his team down the field Saturday night. Boots, power tools, and the movie Elf were a few of the items on the family’s Christmas wish list. The football team decided to all pitch in their own money this Christmas season to help out two families from surrounding cities.

“We are here shopping for families that we adopted. Personally, all the players pitched in a couple of bucks. I think we raised a little over $800 and I believe the coaches covered the rest of the cost,” McMaryion said. “Each family member gets around a $200 budget. We’re out here just shopping for them and just taking care of the wish list that they had.”

The players have been giving back to the community all season long with their program Beyond Football and the holiday season has been no different.

“It’s definitely the time of giving so it feels great to be out here and knowing that we’re in the situation that we are, we’re blessed with a lot of things that we take for granted.” McMaryion continued, “Just being able to give back and doing the little part that we can is definitely a blessing and a good opportunity to give back.”

Trent Moore, an offensive lineman for the Beavers, pushed the cart as his teammates shopped for the families. Following Oregon State’s Civil War victory on Saturday, he was happy to be able to have the chance to give back to the community.

“Me and the other guys on the team are extremely blessed to have the opportunity that some other people don’t have,” Moore said. “It really makes you think about how lucky you are and how thankful you are.”

Defensive lineman Sumner Houston added: “It’s really just all about the kids. Trying to give back to the community and help these families in need and help them have a good Christmas.”

Houston is looking forward to being back with his family this holiday season and remembers Christmases of the past.

“We mainly just had Christmas dinner at home,” Houston said. “My mom always worked really hard at it.”

The Beavers had a bright victory off the field Wednesday night as they made Christmas a little brighter for those who needed it. A Gary Andersen led team that was not expected to do much this season overperformed and this shopping trip was no exception.