He has heard so many stories on the journey he’s been on for three months.
He has felt the emotions of pain, hurt, stress and fear, but in his embrace a new emotion has surfaced: hope.
After helping families in Birmingham (Ala.), San Jose (Calif.), Baltimore (Md.) and Sterling (Va.) that have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, Chris Rogers and his team at Together Assisting People turned their attention to the Washington, D.C. area on last week. A native of Birmingham, former Crimson Tide star Da’Ron Payne knows Rogers’ vision and wanted his help.
RELATED: Chris Rogers, TAP Inc. to help Da’Ron Payne give back to Washington, D.C. area during COVID-19 crisis
As a first-round pick of the Washington Football Team in 2018 NFL Draft, Payne and TAP provided 112,000 pounds of food at Martha’s Table on last weekend.
According to Rogers, the event was ‘epic.’
Chris Rogers, Da’Ron Payne and TAP. Inc posing for a photo after helping families in Washington, D.C. through COVID-19 crisis/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
“The fact that we were able to shut the city down and feed those families; it was a blessing,” Rogers said. “Da’Ron Payne showed us love and he wanted to do something for the community. With all the great organizations in the Washington, D.C. area, he chose to do his first major event with TAP. He has done great work in Birmingham, but he wanted to bring in people he knew and respected from the area to help him in his first event in the city of D.C. To also partner with Martha’s Table, who has been around for 40 years and is a nationally recognized organization, was a major deal as well.”
Da’Ron Payne of the Washington Football Team is giving back to people in the community by providing 112,000 pounds of food with Chris Rogers and TAP Inc./ Photo comes via Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
Da’Ron Payne of the Washington Football Team is putting a box of food in car to help families in need during COVID-19 crisis/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
Martha’s Table in Washington, D.C. partnered up with Chris Rogers and TAP on last week to help feed 16,000 families/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
Da’Ron Payne puts another box of food into a car to help a family that’s trying to get through the COVID-19 pandemic/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
In a time where people have no jobs, no means to feed their families and have an uncertainty about government assistance, Rogers and TAP have gone to the roughest areas to extend a helping hand. Whether it has been in D.C., Alabama, California, Maryland or Virginia, Rogers has heard stories from mothers, grandmothers and fathers on how much of a struggle it has been to feed their children.
“Since I have been able to travel across the country, I have learned one thing,” Rogers said.
Chris Rogers of TAP Inc. putting a box of food into a car to help families in the Washington, D.C. area through the COVID-19 pandemic/Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
“Our people are resilient. Families are finding ways to make things happen. Since we started doing this, people have been coming to multiple sites and states and waiting in line for two to three hours. You don’t wait in line that long, unless you really want something. We have had an average of 1,400 to 1,700 cars at each event. I have heard stories from mothers, fathers and grandmothers on how they used their last bit of gas or they had to borrow money to come get this food. They are not looking for a handout; they need a helping hand. These families did nothing wrong, they just do not know what to do. The stories have been overwhelming and I have seen people deal with stress, anxiety and mental health over this pandemic. People have been crying, but they have also been so thankful to us for helping. You have families with three to four children and Hispanic families with up to 10 people in one home just trying to figure it out.”
Da’Ron Payne of the Washington Football Team speaking to reports after providing 112,00 pounds of food to families in the community/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
RELATED: TAP Inc. helps Mark Ingram and Andre Smith feed families in Baltimore during COVID-19 crisis
During the last two weeks, TAP has pushed out over 200,000 pounds of food between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
When it comes to the last three months, the organization has distributed over 600,000 pounds of food and has fed over 100,000 families.
TAP National COVID-19 Tour ~ Five locations
-Birmingham, Ala. (44,000 families fed)
-San Jose, Calif. (24,000 families fed)
-Baltimore, Md. (16,000 families fed)
-Washington, D.C. (16,000 families fed)
-Sterling, Va. (5,000 families fed)
One person who is very proud of his former collegiate teammate at the University of Alabama is Mark Ingram.
Chris Rogers of TAP and Ravens’ RB Mark Ingram shake hands after providing families with over 80,000 pounds of food for COVID-19 relief/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
Ingram and Rogers played together from 2008 to 2009, and both were on the Crimson Tide’s undefeated BCS National Championship roster in the ’09 season. Rogers started TAP in 2010, but Ingram knew all along there was a yearning inside his best friend to help others.
According to Ingram, it was Rogers who guided him as a freshman at Alabama in 2008.
“Chris and I have been friends for well over 10 years,” Ingram said. “He took me under his wing as a freshman and really showed me love. I remember he had this vision to develop an organization that would help people and provide resources to young people. The fact that he started TAP over 10 years ago and I have been supporting him; I remember he had a paintball tournament in Tuscaloosa to help those in need. I believe in his mission. I believe in his theories in helping people. I will always be supportive of him and his organization, because he’s good people. He wants to help and bring a long our future generation to be successful.”
Mark Ingram of the Baltimore Ravens autographs a jersey in helping with COVID-19 relief in the community/ Photo comes from Kevin Moreno of All-Pro Reels
Before he assisted Payne in the Washington, D.C. area, Rogers and TAP helped Ingram and Andre Smith distribute over 80,000 pounds of food in Baltimore, Md. Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, has been an exciting running back on the field for the Ravens but he’s been an even bigger blessing to the community.
In an interview with yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine, he said it was a blessing to provide COVID-19 support with TAP.
RELATED: Chris Rogers and TAP Inc. giveaway 10,000 meals during COVID-19 pandemic
“During these rough times, you leave a legacy by how you treat and impact people,” Ingram said.
Like Rogers, Ingram constantly thinks about the advice Nick Saban gave him at Alabama on how to be a great man. People may forget what someone did on the field; however, they will always remember how it helped a community.
Ingram also looks forward to seeing Alabama football get back on top.
“I want to see all of those guys do well,” he said. “I’m a running back, so I like what Najee Harris and Brian Robinson are doing, but I want to see Alabama get back to winning championships.”
In these unprecedented times, it is so good to see people on the front line helping others.
Rogers is a firm example of his book, Beyond the Field: An Athlete’s Guide to Greatness, in that he is not only influencing inner city youth but he is also been a force of hope in the world we are in.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
