DALLAS, Texas — Thanksgiving came early to underprivileged families across North Texas. Current Dallas Cowboy players did not participate in the annual holiday festivity of serving early Thanksgiving meals at Salvation Army locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but the club altered plans to comply with the current climate due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“So many people who use to be out here helping serve unfortunately are on the receiving line right now, “ Charlotte Jones-Anderson told reporters. “ So we are happy to be able to be out here to support and encourage all of those who can to participate and get involved with the Salvation Army and to do your part as we continue into these challenging holidays. Today, we are going to bring some smiles.”
To continue the long standing tradition of the Cowboys lending a helping hand to serve families a meal they may not otherwise receive for Thanksgiving, alumni players, Charlotte Jones-Anderson, and representatives made two appearances in the DFW metroplex on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The meals distributed were made possible by the Cowboys’ longtime partners, Tom Thumb and Albertsons.
At the Dallas site, former Cowboys Tony Casillas, Darren Woodson, George Teague, Charles Haley, and Cowboys’ Chief Brand Officer and Executive Vice President Charlotte Jones-Anderson volunteered at a drive-through distribution site loading cars with boxes of fresh food for the holidays. At Salvation Army’s Carr P. Collins Social Services Center more than 100 families received an early gift of turkey and fixings by the working hands of former Cowboy players and an executive of the organization.
The Salvation Army’s charitable efforts hit close to the heart for former Cowboy safety Darren Woodson, who once benefited from their free warm meals as a kid. He now pays it forward helping others and serving because firsthand, Woodson knows what it is like to be on the receiving end.
“ When I was a kid growing up, the Salvation Army was always there for me, “Darren Woodson described at the annual event. “ I was an inner city kid, grew up in the projects of Phoenix, Arizona, and I can remember walking to the Salvation Army, which was directly across the street from the projects, and they were there to serve me and serve my family. So, it’s always been- the Salvation Army has always been a part of my makeup and I’ve always felt like if there’s anything I can do to give back, because they gave so much to myself and my community in which I grew up, that’s the reason why I’m here.”
In Fort Worth, former Cowboys Raghib Ramadian “Rocket” Ismail, Dat Nguyen, and James “Whale” Whalen served an early Thanksgiving meal to more than 100 people experiencing homelessness in the courtyard of the Salvation Army’s J.E. and L.E. Mabee Social Services Center. Attendees received a hot meal but with social distancing protocols in place, were asked to enjoy the food at another location of their choice. The experience of seeing members of the community shaking hands with former players and tangibly placing a long awaited to-go box of food in their hands, cannot be understated and provided a shift in perspective.
The grin on the faces of those serving the Thanksgiving spread matched the smiles on faces of people receiving the meals.
Former Cowboys’ linebacker Dat Nguyen summed up the experience to D210SPORTS “ Nothing really hits you until you see the smile on their face and you know they are taken care of for today. Tomorrow there is going to be uncertainties and there are going to be questions but at least today, you know that they had a good meal in their stomach. “
Amidst chaotic times in the world, kindness and laughter spread across the parking lot at both Salvation Army locations but it does not stop there. Like Cowboys’ alumni did on Tuesday, everyone is capable of ‘doing the most good.’
