9 months ago
You may hear Young Jeezy's songs on the radio, but Monday night he rapped a different tune, giving back to the community that he once called home.
Kids cheered on the rapper at his annual christmas toy giveaway at Macon's Olympia Family Fun Center.
Young Jeezy and his Street Dreamz Foundation, along with the National Lighthouse Foundation, want to make sure all kids have a gift on Christmas.
After growing up in Macon, Young Jeezy says he looks forward to returning home for the event every year.
He says, "Definitely the kids, most of all, just seeing the kids happy. Some of them get bikes, and some of them get games, but they all go home happy, and it's like Jeezy Santa Claus, so I'm happy."
Young Jeezy gave away about five hundred toys to kids under twelve in the Macon community.
More than eight hundred people came out to the event. Some stood in line outside for more than three hours.
Shelina Knight's daughters got tickets to pick up toys through their Stepping Stones after school program at Bruce Elementary School.
She says, "It is cool that every Christmas he always finds his way back and helps us."
But with the line wrapping around the building to get inside, some people walked away empty handed.
Shurice Baldwin waited outside with her kids for hours, but says when she got to the door she found out they needed tickets.
She says she supports the rapper, but was disappointed her kids were waiting out in the cold for hours. They eventually got inside, but the tickets for toys were all given out.
Some tickets were given out through programs, such as the Stepping Stones after school program, while the rest were given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Young Jeezy says he has been doing the event in Macon for about eight years, and believes this may have been their biggest turnout yet.
He says next year, they may have to think about holding the event at the Macon Centreplex.
Shelina Knight says her family won't forget this experience.
She says, "It is a good opportunity for them, him being from where he is from and seeing all the success he had. It lets my girls know that they can do anything they want to do."
