Vikings give Turkey Day blessing to thousands
The Minnesota Vikings have helped make Thanksgiving special for thousands of Twin Cities families by partnering with The Salvation Army in three separate donations this week.
The first donation came from the team’s offensive line, who gave 100 food boxes from Hy-Vee that included a frozen turkey and other foods needed to create a Thanksgiving feast – including pumpkin pie. The Salvation Army distributed the food boxes at three Twin Cities Salvation Army locations, including the E. Lake St. Salvation Army in Minneapolis, where a teenager showed up on his bicycle to transport the food home to his sick mother.
The second donation came from the “Vikings Women” (cheerleaders, staff members, players’ wives, others), who donated 1,700 boxes of Thanksgiving foods in partnership with health nonprofit Matter. Some of the boxes included foods that could be cooked, while other boxes contained ready-to-eat foods for people experiencing homelessness.
All 1,700 boxes will be distributed at eight Salvation Army locations, including the N. Lyndale Ave. Salvation Army in Minneapolis (view photos of the drop-off).
“We are so grateful to the Vikings Women partnership and how they gather resources and friends like Matter to make this world a bit brighter,” said Captain Jim Brickson (pictured), leader of the N. Lyndale Ave. Salvation Army. “This Thanksgiving Day, after we serve a wonderful hot meal to hundreds of people, the Matter boxes filled with a second blessing will sustain our guests longer than just one holiday celebration.”
The third donation came from the Zimmer Foundation, a charity founded by Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. The foundation paid for hot Thanksgiving meals served at our three busiest Salvation Army locations – the Harbor Light Shelter in Minneapolis, and our West 7th and Payne Ave. locations in St. Paul.
“The Salvation Army appreciates all of these food donations not only because they will provide Thanksgiving meals for families, but because the Vikings delivered the meals themselves, saving us untold time and resources,” said Lt. Col. Lonneal Richardson, Salvation Army Northern Division commander. “Thank you to the Vikings, along with all of our other donors and volunteers, for helping The Salvation Army provide a wonderful Thanksgiving for people and families in need.”
Please join The Salvation Army by volunteering or making a donation to support your local community.