New York (AFP)

Rudy Gobert, the French pivot of the Utah Jazz, on Thursday opened a food bank in a college in Salt Lake City, the American newspaper The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The establishment, located northwest of the city, accommodates 655 students, the majority of whom live below the poverty line.

They will find food products and other everyday consumer goods on site.

The local supermarket chain Smith's Food & Drug is participating in the operation.

"It always breaks my heart to see students or children worrying about their next meal. I was one of them years ago," said the 29-year-old, quoted by the Salt Lake Tribune.

This is not the first charity project of Rudy Gobert, who founded the Rudy's Kid Foundation, an association dedicated to the health and education of children.

"During the Covid, I was able to do a lot of things from a distance. But being able to meet these children and hand them their bags myself, it makes a lot more sense to me. I am lucky to be able to have an impact" , he added.

The French international born in Saint-Quentin (Yvelines) has been playing with the Utah Jazz since 2013. He was elected best defender in the NBA three times in 2017, 2018 and 2021. In December 2020 he signed a record contract with his franchise of $ 205 million over five years.

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