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Canada’s newest NBA star is giving back to his community.

This week, New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett, who averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds during his rookie season with the New York Knicks, donated $100,000 to the Mississauga Food Bank.

Barrett grew up in Mississauga after his father Rowan stopped playing professional basketball in France and moved the family back home. RJ Barrett started playing high school basketball at St. Marcellinus in Mississauga before moving to the U.S., where he became the prep player of the year and a coveted NCAA and NBA prospect. Barrett starred for a year at Duke before becoming the No. 3 pick of June’s NBA draft. He has also starred for Canada on the international stage and was slated to play for the senior men’s team at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria, B.C. this June, which has now been pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One thing my family has taught me is the importance of being supportive when you can, in any way you can. During these difficult times, we all need to do our part and knowing I have the ability to help ensure people have what they need is important to me,” Barrett said in a release. “I’m happy I can make a difference in the neighbourhood I grew up in. I want to continue to help raise awareness of the continued need, in partnership with The Mississauga Food Bank.”

The hoops star has also made other contributions both in Canada and in New York.

“With this generous contribution from RJ Barrett, The Mississauga Food Bank will be able to provide 200,000 meals to feed our hungry neighbours in Mississauga,” Meghan Nicholls, executive director of the Mississauga Food Bank, said in the release. “We are fortunate and appreciative of RJ’s support in the local community he grew up in and humbled to be one of the charities he’s chosen to contribute to during this difficult time. When we told RJ how many meals his donation would provide, I could hear his smile coming right through the phone.”

The Mississauga Food Bank said that, with Barrett’s contribution, it is one step closer to reaching its $840,000 goal “to support the urgent needs of the community” and added “n ow, more than ever, food security is a dire reality for our most vulnerable community members, and every dollar donated will turn into food for two meals for our hungry neighbours.”

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