CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte man who was mistaken for an outspoken Parkland, Florida, mass shooting survivor-activist gave middle-schoolers a surprise shopping spree.
David Hogg, 18, has the same name as the shooting survivor of the Parkland school shooting and as a result, gained more than 20,000 Twitter followers.
He has used his fame earned by mistaken identity as a catalyst to give back to the community.
“I definitely had a rough time throughout middle school and maybe some of these kids, too,” Hogg told Channel 9.
Hogg raised more than $2,000 to give deserving students at James Martin Middle School the opportunity to buy merchandise at Marshalls.
Principal Tonya Faison said counselors helped select the students.
“They just went through the process of kids we had conversations with and knowing some of the things they need,” Faison said. “It made the selection process very easy and these are some really good students. And they are deserving of whatever we can possibly give them.”
Each kid got $200.
“Sometimes kids just struggle with things and parents can’t afford stuff and it’s just a blessing for kids to have the opportunity and get the stuff they really need and wanted,” student Isaac Williams said. “I’m blessed that my man, David, came out here clutch, him and his mom. I appreciate you, bro for sure.”
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