Canes delivering Christmas spirit by aiding local soldier

The Carolina Hurricanes are getting into the holiday spirit to help a soldier and his family who had their Christmas stolen from them.

Sgt. Patrick Jacobson, who is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan after the holidays, returned to his home in Fayetteville on Dec. 9 to find burglars had stolen almost everything. Gone was a computer, Christmas presents that had yet to be placed under the tree and $1,000 Jacobson had planned to use for a trip to New York with his family to visit his children.

On Thursday, former Hurricanes player Shane Willis will deliver a gift to the family -- all of the toys that were taken in the burglary. The gifts were purchased by members of the Carolina Hurricanes Alumni Association.

"People helped us to make this Christmas for us," said 12-year-old Tatianna Young to the ABC affiliate in Raleigh-Durham. "It's going to be a special Christmas."

Not only are the Hurricanes helping, but so are complete strangers.

The family has received donations of a PlayStation, the favorite toy of 10-year-old R.J., and cash to help replace what was lost. Jacobson said the toughest part of the ordeal was losing the $1,000 that was earmarked for a family trip to New York. He earned that money by selling a truck.

Thanks to the help from others, that trip is still possible.

"And when we are able to get to New York and see Patrick's boys, we'll take a picture and those people will know they made that moment happen for us," said Shannon Jacobson, Patrick's wife, to the Raleigh-Durham news station.

Back to top