Vikings legend Cris Carter hosts incredible Christmas party for local families
Legendary Minnesota Vikings wide receiver and Hall of Famer Cris Carter hosted an incredible Christmas party Dec. 14 for about two dozen local families served by The Salvation Army. (View photos.)
The fun took place inside the gymnasium at the West 7th Salvation Army in St. Paul, where the families first enjoyed dinner courtesy of Hy-Vee. After dinner, a giant retractable wall opened to expose a Christmas wonderland, made possible by Linen Effects, where our partners provided a multitude of gifts:
- Laptop computers from Comcast.
- Grocery gift cards from Cub.
- Sporting goods from Scheels.
- New shoes from Tradehome Shoes.
- New athletic and dress clothes from UNRL.
One of the families included a St. Paul woman named Sahani (pictured). Several years ago, The Salvation Army helped Sahani and her family overcome significant obstacles after she and her husband adopted Sahani’s niece and nephew - when the couple already has two kids of their own.
“Suddenly, we went from four people to six people living in a one-bedroom apartment – and my income didn’t increase,” Sahani said. “If we were eating out of one can of beans, all six of us were eating out of that one can of beans.”
The Salvation Army stepped in and provided the family with food, rent and utility assistance, clothing, spiritual guidance, and other support.
“The Salvation Army helped us when we had nowhere else to turn,” said Sahani, whose family has since moved into a bigger apartment. “From that moment on, God has been putting us in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.”
One of those “right people” is Carter. He was thrilled to support Sahani and all the other families in attendance.
The Christmas party was “one of the greatest things I’ve ever been able to do here in the Twin Cities,” said Carter, whose family often received assistance from The Salvation Army while he was growing up in Ohio (learn more about Carter’s story.) “At different junctures of people’s lives, they need other people to come along and help them on their journey. We’re trying to make the impossible, possible.”
Watch a video of the event from WCCO.
This Christmas season, you can Be the Light in somebody’s life by providing food, shelter and care for people in need. Join us today by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.