The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and the U.S. Marines on Monday joined together to host the Skins Santa Shoppe at FedExField in Landover, Md.
Normally the home to the Redskins on game days, the team's locker room at FedExField was transformed into a faux toyshop, as students from 20 Washington, D.C., area schools were able to select from hundreds of toys to bring one home for the holidays.
As the kids scanned through all of the different options, they were joined by Tanya Snyder – wife of owner Dan Snyder – Redskins players, WOW Wives and Marines.
The players in attendance Monday were running back Alfred Morris, fullback Darrel Young, tight ends Niles Paul, Je'Ron Hamm and Chase Dixon, offensive lineman Tevita Stevens, linebackers Trent Murphy and Jackson Jeffcoat, cornerback Kenny Okoro and safety Duke Ihenaco.
Young went back and forth between the boys and girls sections, playing impromptu pickup basketball games with the kids who picked out basketballs, and helping the girls choose between different Barbie Dolls.
An uncle to several nieces and nephews, Young said he had no trouble helping kids pick out the right toys.
"I do remember times like this going to the store, they would grab everything," he said. "I'm like, 'Hey, grab one thing. Uncle doesn't have it like that.' I love it. It's just kids coming, picking out toys, mingling with them a little bit and having some fun."
Morris, meanwhile, stuck mostly to the boys section, helping kids pick out brain games and decide between different Lego sets.
He said that even though Sunday's loss to the New York Giants was still fresh on the Redskins' minds, the smiling faces of the kids after seeing their toys put everything in perspective.
"This is really what gets us up, especially after yesterday," Morris said. "So to get back up when you're tired and sore and come do this, it makes it worthwhile when you see these kids smile and see them getting exactly what they want. It's awesome. I love it. I'm just glad we can come out here and do this."
There was one moment in which Morris was so concentrated on helping some of the students pick out gifts that he didn't realize one of them were wearing his jersey.
"I know one the little girls -- she had a No. 46 jersey on -- she was like, 'Hey, you've got my shirt on.' So I was like 'I'm sorry. I can take it off and give it back,'" Morris joked. "So it's just the little things like that keeps a smile on our face and makes it worthwhile."
Murphy echoed Morris' sentiment, saying that events like Monday's Skins Santa Shoppe are extremely important.
"Giving to the kids – gifts or whatever it may be – is really what it's all about," Murphy said. "We shouldn't lose sight about why we do things like this. The impact is has on these kids and in the community, and to see their faces full of joy – it's pretty cool to see."
Murphy – who has several sisters – admitted that he gravitated towards the toys geared towards boys because he didn't have a chance to do much shopping with those kinds of toys growing up.
"I know a thing or two about shopping for girls, but maybe it's because I didn't have as many brothers growing up that I'm over here picking out the boy toys," Murphy said with a smile.
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