Danno

Mark Ingram first asked the 36 children seated before him to raise a hand if they had at least one parent in prison, and when most did, he asked how it made them feel.

"It made me sad," Ingram said.


He would know. The New Orleans Saints running back during his childhood saw his father, former NFL receiver Mark Ingram Sr., put in jail for a period of time.

Ingram recalled that feeling Monday as he spoke to the children as part of a $100-per-child holiday shopping spree put on by his The Mark Ingram Foundation, which is committed to helping underprivileged children across the U.S., and particularly those challenged by the absence of an incarcerated parent.

The event took place at Academy Sports and Outdoors in Metairie, and several Saints teammates were on hand to help.

Included among them were Thomas Morstead, Justin Drescher, Craig Robertson, Senio Kelemete, Vonn Bell, Brandin Cooks, Cam Jordan, Roman Harper, Marcus Murphy, Coby Fleener and Terron Armstead.

Ingram appreciated the support. When he saw Cooks, the two embraced. When he saw Jordan from across the a shopping aisle, Ingram shouted, "Appreciate it," toward Jordan.

Mark Ingram leads shopping spree for children who have a parent in jail | NOLA.com