Jayhawks continue 33-year-old tradition by Christmas shopping for area families
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU players led Santa’s Helpers shopping spree, buying gifts for local families
- Players used printed wish lists, pooled funds and tested gifts in-store
- Coaches and program leaders framed the tradition as community service and pride
Kansas Jayhawks sophomore forward Flory Bidunga pedaled a Cruiser Bicycle through the aisles of Walmart, test-driving the two-wheeler prior to purchasing it as a Christmas gift for a child on his Salvation Army wish list Wednesday at the south Iowa Street store.
It was a similar scene as a year ago, the 6-foot-10 Democratic Republic of Congo native entertaining his 15 teammates, plus several team managers, coaches and their family members at the start of the 90-minute team outing for charity.
The 2025-26 Jayhawks Wednesday continued the KU basketball program’s Santa’s Helpers program, started by former KU basketball player Roger Morningstar and his wife, Linda, 33 years ago.
Each player at the start of the shopping spree annually receives printed-out information about an area family that includes a “wish list” for gifts to be selected by the players. They have been known to chip in some of their own money upon reaching the check-out lines.
“I don’t even know if I’m in the (holiday) spirit yet fully,” added McDowell, taking a break with teammates during finals week on KU’s campus. “Honestly just love your family. Regardless of what happens that’s all you got is your family,” he added, offering a wish to fans for the holiday season.
The 6-foot-5 Houston native who has emerged as a rotation player this season said his goal during the shopping excursion was to buy “things the kids need and obviously there are things that they want. I think if I was a parent, I would be in the fine line of (wanting) a little bit of both. It’s kind of how my parents were. I’m hoping to give back.”
KU redshirt junior guard Wilder Evers noted that “this is an awesome event and I love doing it. It’s great to get all the guys here and do something for a good cause. Everybody loves to give back and we’re a close knit group and so being able to give back as a group is really cool.”
Evers smiled when told current assistant coach Jacque Vaughn, who attended Wednesday’s shopping outing, took part in the event as a KU player from 1994 to ’97.
“I think that’s crazy, but like I’ve been saying it is a great event,” Evers said.
KU coach Bill Self said Wednesday that “it’s a great cause. At Christmastime we’re all so blessed and fortunate and have so many things going for us that we get hung up on not winning a game or a bad practice or a tough school day and there’s families out there that can use a little boost, especially at a time they’ll all be around each other and celebrating. And every child deserves to have something under the Christmas tree. So our guys understand that and appreciate it. So it’s fun for them to do.”
Of players offering some NIL money of their own to buy presents this time of year, Self said: “You know what … they might. We’ve had some guys … I know Hunter (Dickinson, NBA rookie) did a lot of different things for others that we never knew about. He didn’t publicize or anything. And people would say, ‘Well Hunter did this,’ or, ‘Hunt’ did that, and I’m sure there’s others that have done that, too, but our guys have done Family Promise and other charitable things and with Brian Hanni (Roundball Classic donations) and everything he does. I kind of think it’s cool when guys do it and don’t expect any recognition.”
Self told The Star a year ago, “This was done back with coach (Roy) Williams’ staff as well. So we’ve been doing this and trying to provide for families at a special time of year. A lot of our guys come from situations over time that maybe they didn’t experience Christmas the way that some other families do. It’s important.
“Our guys get it, and I think that’s really neat. We’re all so fortunate and blessed, but there are a lot of people out there struggling, especially this time of year. Anything our guys can do I know gives them a great pride,” Self said.
