Nelly helped turn an ordinary night in St. Louis into a moment kids won’t soon forget.

The hometown star teamed up with Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers to surprise children at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis on Monday night (Dec. 22) with 100 brand-new bikes, transforming the gym into a full-on Christmas scene just days before the holiday. 

What started as a community event quickly turned into a reminder of what showing up can mean.

For the rapper, the night was personal. 

Watching kids react to the bikes brought him back to his own childhood and the realities many families face during the holidays. 

“I think that’s every kid’s dream on Christmas,” he told Fox 2. 

“I know what it’s like to wake up on Christmas and nothing is under the tree. That’s not hyperbole. That’s facts.” 

Seeing those smiles, he added, is what the season is truly about. 

“Christmas is about the kids.”

The moment was made even more special with Ashanti by his side. 

The Grammy Award-winning singer reflected on how full circle the night felt for her. 

“It’s just beautiful to see all the kids and all the excitement,” she shared, noting that she once sat on the same gym floor while getting her own start. 

Being back in that space, she said, made the moment especially meaningful.

Inside the gym, families were welcomed with holiday cookies, drinks, Santa hats, and nonstop energy, turning the Boys & Girls Club into a place filled with warmth, safety, and celebration. It wasn’t just about the bikes, but it was about creating a joyful experience that kids could hold onto.

Leaders at the Boys & Girls Club emphasized that moments like these are central to their mission. 

“It’s always important that we give our young people experiences,” said Brandon Williams, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis. 

Beyond gifts, he explained, the goal is mentorship and long-term impact. 

“We want them to understand that somebody cares about them.”

The bike giveaway is part of Raising Cane’s ongoing commitment to giving back, with a focus on education, hunger relief, and direct investment in communities that need support most.

Watch the video below.