Detroit Lions rookie Jermar Jefferson already supporting local Detroit charity

Detroit Lions seventh-round draft pick Jermar Jefferson was drafted by the team less than a month ago, but the former Oregon State running back has already committed himself to a local charitable cause in his new city.

On Wednesday, Jefferson announced his “Munchie Merch Initiative,” a drive in which he sells clothing with his “Munchie” nickname on it, and the proceeds support the Pure Heart Foundation.

“Detroit is my new home and I want to do everything I can to make a difference,” Jefferson said via a written statement. “When I heard about the important work that Pure Heart was doing in the community, I was truly blown away. It’s an honor to work with such an incredible organization. This is just the beginning.”

The Pure Heart Foundation seeks to support children of incarcerated parents to help make sure they stay out of trouble and break the generational cycle. Here’s their mission statement:

Pure Heart Foundation’s mission is to embrace children with incarcerated parents and empower them to break the cycle of generational involvement in the criminal justice system. Pure Heart recognizes that children with incarcerated parents have been the silent victims of mass incarceration for far too long and it is the overall goal to address the silent struggles they face daily.

Back in December, the Pure Heart Foundation was listed as one of 12 grantees for the Lions’ 2021 Inspire Change social justice initiatives.

If you want to support Jefferson, local Detroit children in need, and get a pretty sick looking shirt or hoodie, head to https://represent.com/jermar and pick up some merch. T-shirts are $25.99 and hoodies run $42.99.