By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL — Saints quarterback Luke McCown visited Hyundai of Slidell to sign autographs and help with making a large donation to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Hyundai of Slidell, along with other car dealerships in the area, joined forces to purchase over 100 turkeys from Winn Dixie to donate to the food bank located in?New Orleans.
McCown said the connection with Hyundai and Slidell began when he partnered with the dealership to drive one of its vehicles during the season. McCown, his wife Katy, and their six children all live in New Orleans, but they have used a Hyundai Sonata to drive this season because of its style and great gas mileage.
“We wanted a smaller vehicle for when just Katy and I needed something,”?McCown said. “It worked out well that through our partnership we could do something together to help the community, too.”
McCown played college football for the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007, 2008, Jacksonville Jaguars from 2009 to 2011 and Atlanta Falcons in 2012. For the past two seasons he has been with the New Orleans Saints.
He said the Saints’ fans in Slidell are just as big of fans as anywhere else that he has seen.
“The fan base here has been so gracious, even with our up and down year that we’ve had,”?McCown said.
He added that working with Saints starting quarterback Drew Brees has been a great life lesson.
“He is fantastic. He’s the best quarterback I’ve ever seen, and he’s a Hall of Famer no doubt. He puts in so much time to work on his game, but he never relinquishes any time with his family,”?McCown said.
Other dealerships involved in the donation were Brian Harris Buick/GMC, Brian Harris Mazda, Toyota of Slidell, Levis Chevy/ Cadillac, Lakeshore Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Lakeshore Kia, Nissan of Slidell, Supreme Ford, Honda of Slidell, and Enterprise Rent a Car.