‘Meant the world to me,’ Texans’ Jalen Pitre hosts surprise shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods

PEARLAND – Standing behind a display in a shopping aisle at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Monday morning, Texans safety Jalen Pitre was initially out of sight to a group of families impacted by Hurricane Beryl.

Moments later, they surprised to see Pitre as they learned he was hosting them on a shopping spree of $500 per family in Pearland.

Pitre interacted with parents and kids, encouraging them after they had endured a rough week without power and other hardships. He helped them pick out shoes, a popular move, especially the Jordan brand, along with other athletic gear.

And the Stafford graduate who plays for his hometown NFL team left the families with a warm feeling and a rich memory.

Jesse Hernandez and his wife traveled to Pearland with their five kids after not having power for an entire week. Hernandez related how tough it’s been not having air conditioning in his home or his truck, which has three broken windows, and living in a household that includes his five children, a dog and a cat.

“We’ve been through hell,” Hernandez said. “We’re sweating every day, man. It’s just really hot. I’m glad we still made it out strong. I’m proud of my family. Sometimes, I can’t believe we’re still alive.”

To meet Pitre, to watch how much time he spent with each of his kids along with the other families, made Hernandez very emotional.

“He was real, real cool,” Hernandez said. “Man, his true colors really showed. He’s a great man. He sat here and spoke with my kids, each one individually, got to know them on a personal basis. He’s a really good guy.”

Pitre has been heavily involved in the community ever since the Texans drafted the former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in the second round out of Baylor three years ago. He is a partner of Kids Meals Inc., which helps food-insecure youth in the greater Houston area to not go hungry.

“The biggest thing was about putting a smile on a kid’s face,” Pitre said. “It’s been a tough week for them with no power no electricity. It’s been hard for them to have some fun, so I just wanted to come out here and shed some light on them and have a great day. I feel like it’s my duty with my platform to just help out as many people as I can.

“I’m surrounded by a lot of people that help out. I’m thankful for Dick’s and my team for setting it up. It’s just been a blessing to be able to help out the Houston community and do as much as I do. It doesn’t only help them. It helps me. It puts things into perspective for me. It meant the world to me to put a smile on someone’s face. It’s always a blessing and I don’t think they understood how much that helps me out and puts things in perspective for me. It humbles me and makes me very grateful for the things I do have.”

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Pitre said he lost power briefly during the storm that has heavily impacted Houston with some residents still without power.

“Thankfully, my power was only out for two days, which felt like a year, but I’m thankful I got to spend some time without the WiFi and without the phones,” Pitre said. “It kind of brought me back down to earth. It humbled me a little bit. It was a good time with family and I’m thankful no one was injured. The house was good, so everything is good. My family is good after Hurricane Beryl.”

Having Pitre present for this surprise shopping spree was significant to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

They felt like he was the perfect representative.

“Here at Dick’s Sporting Goods, we feel to be a part of this community, we need to be a part of this community and, right now, the entire community is hurting,” Aaron Pisk of Dick’s Sporting Goods said. “Houston is not what it typically is and these particular families we were able to surprise today they needed a moment to remember it is a good place. There are good things going on in the world and help them get back to a place of normalcy.”

“I think it’s really important to have someone here who understands Houston and Jalen grew up in Houston. He really gets it. He’s been growing up with this stuff his entire life, so he understands what the community is going through because he can really relate to these families.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com