Fighting Hunger with Cricket Wireless and the WWE
Residents of Chicago’s west side found another reason to be thankful this holiday season when they received bags full of Thanksgiving meal staples and a chance to meet a man with an impressive piece of bling: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar Kofi Kingston.
On November 22, more than 100 families attended the event held at The Salvation Army Temple Corps Community Center and hosted by Cricket Wireless, part of the company’s commitment to give back to the communities they serve. Attendees received a bag of canned goods, a bag of dry goods, a $20 gift card to purchase their own turkey, and a chance to meet and get their photo taken with Kingston and one of his many championship belts.
“It’s awesome to be here,” said Kingston, a native of Ghana who has won numerous national and international WWE championships. “The holidays are all about being happy and putting smiles on faces, like we do at the WWE. Obviously, The Salvation Army is the epitome of helping others. It is my utmost pleasure to be here, to witness the smiles on all the faces, and to help kick off the holidays.”
Those who showed up to receive the holiday meal were smiling from gratitude. Debra Vigo, who attended the event with her 1-year-old granddaughter, called the bags full of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and corn bread mix “a wonderful blessing.”
Kimberly Yarber, a mom of three kids, agreed. “This means a lot,” she said. “This Thanksgiving we’re really struggling.” Dinah Thornton, who will be helping her daughter cook the Thanksgiving meal this year, said the bags full of food are “very helpful. This really helps a lot.”
Major Clara Braddock, corps officer at the Army's Temple Corps Community Center, said the event would especially benefit seniors on a limited income and families trying to make ends meet. “My hope is that all who attend have a good Thanksgiving,” she said. “And hopefully somehow they could know that Christ is at the center of all we do to help our neighbors in need.”
Check out more photos from this event!