Sonny Weems donates face masks to community

Pro baller, former Blue Devil lends a helping hand during coronavirus crisis

news@theeveningtimes.com

Former NBA veteran Sonny Weems is helping aid his local community during the coronavirus pandemic. Weems has teamed up with the West Memphis residents to pass out nearly 7,000 masks to those in need.

Weems is donating KN95 masks to senior citizens and low-income residents.

Through his Weems World Foundation, the basketball star wants to make sure his community is taken care of during an uncertain time.

“My grandmother works in the nursing home,' Weems said. 'She actually told me that she doesn’t have enough masks where she works, and that kind of prompted me to go ahead and get it started.”

West Memphis mayor Marco McClendon will also be involved.

McClendon says he will go door-to-door delivering the face masks. He will also deliver care packages to those that are ill as well.

“I know a couple of people who have gotten sick from it, and it’s kind of hard that our people won’t be able to pay for the medication,” Weems said.

The Weems World Foundation aims to enlighten, enhance and empower children and families. The foundation has several volunteer activities for the community, including “Weems World Week” that takes place in West Memphis the summertime.

Programs include financial classes, health initiatives and literacy groups.

Weems, a former West Memphis Blue Devil and Arkansas Razorback, also played five NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns.

He played in 183 games and averaged 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.

He has found international success overseas. Since 2011, Weems has played in the EuroLeague and the Chinese Basketball Association. Last season, Weems played for the Southern Tigers in the CBA.

Weems averaged 21.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He also shot 35 percent from the threepoint line for the Tigers.

The former Blue Devils star recently discussed the coronavirus pandemic with SportsNet and how he dealt with being at the virus’ epicenter. He said at first, the virus caught him off-guard, but he knew he had to do something to protect his health.

“I was trying to process the whole thing because no one really knew,” Weems said.

“I’ve been playing abroad for seven, eight years now so I’m kind of one of those guys who’s keeping up on the news and what’s going on in different countries.

So, I was telling people, ‘Man, I don’t think we need to go back right now because this is really kind of unheard of. Any time a city locks down a place with 11 million people, that’s kind of a big deal.”

Given that he experienced first-hand the dangers of the coronavirus, he made sure to take care of his community and those he loved. The KN95 masks will go a long way in helping battle and maintain good health.

“Coming from that city and me being from this community, I kind of knew that those people needed that,” Weems said.

Photos courtesy of Weems World Foundation