ELYRIA - Quion Lee couldn’t arch his neck far enough to match eyes with the towering figure in front of him.

So instead, Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.J. Hickson helped the 9-year-old boy out by bending down to his level.

“I didn’t think he was that tall,” said Quion, after their meeting.

Hickson looked every bit his 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame as he passed out boxes of food and hygiene products to needy families outside the Boys and Girls Club in Elyria on Friday afternoon.

His appearance was part of NBA Cares Week of Service in which players from teams throughout the league have been volunteering their time this week with charitable and civic organizations.

Joining Hickson were teammate and rookie guard Danny Green, Cavs assistant coaches Melvin Hunt and Mike Malone, as well as more than 50 members of the Cavs staff, employees from the Quicken Loans call center and Boys and Girls Club volunteers.

Cavs forwards Jawad Williams and Darnell Jackson also passed out food at the Westside Boys and Girls Club in Cleveland.

“This is a great experience seeing these guys here,” said Quion’s mom, Tara Blakely. “You see them on TV, but you never expect to see them here in person. Not many pro athletes would do this.”

Her son agreed.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “They should always do this.”

The Lees were among about 200 people who received the care boxes, which had traveled from the Feed the Children headquarters in Oklahoma City and were dropped off Friday morning. Despite the dreary skies and drizzle, cars filled with families were lined up and down the driveway and out the Boys and Girls Club entrance off Oberlin-Elyria Road to accept the food.

Parents and teenagers alike took pictures of the players from their vehicles and waited for one of the staff or Hickson and Green to carry the boxes out to them.

The players made an effort to visit each vehicle, saying hello, shaking hands and signing autographs.

“It’s real humbling,” Hickson said. “It was a great experience just to meet all these people and give back to the community.”

Green, who has only been a member of the team since the Cavs drafted him 46th overall in June, called the experience “eye opening.”

“Sometimes it’s like we live in a fantasy world, but being here in reality, you don’t realize all you have,” he said.

Wendy Murray, director of resource development with Elyria Boys and Girls Club, said the players making an appearance was a highlight for many.

“Seeing the smiles on all the kids’ faces and even the parents’ faces, it’s just so wonderful,” she said. “It’s great that they’re taking their free time on a Friday to do this. I can’t express how wonderful this is.”

Contact Adam Wright at 329-7155 or awright@chroniclet.com.

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