Thanksgiving is a time for coming together with loved ones and reflecting on the year’s blessings. But for some vulnerable families, it can be a financially stressful season. The week before Thanksgiving, Buckner collaborated with both the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Mavericks to provide Thanksgiving meals and alleviate stress for 550 Dallas families.

Photo: Dallas Mavericks

On Nov. 20, 300 families lined up their cars at the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid as Dallas Mavericks players Klay Thompson, Derrick Lively II, Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber and Quentin Grimes loaded their cars with Thanksgiving meals.

Meal recipients are all participants in local Buckner programs such as Buckner Family Pathways®, NextStep and foster care and adoption. Many of these families regularly attend the Buckner-hosted food distributions in East Dallas.

Photo: Dallas Mavericks

Kroger provided meals including frozen turkeys as well as a full set of sides and desserts, packed in reusable bags. The bags were assembled by Kroger employees, Buckner staff and volunteers, Mavs D-Town Crew and Mavs ManiACCs.

Photo: Dallas Mavericks

“It is such an amazing event for the families and for the community. It provides that hope that so many people are falling short of during what can be a difficult season,” said Johnny Flowers, assistant director of The Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid. “The Mavericks players were into it and being that personal makes a huge difference. We know the Word of God tells us, ‘With loving-kindness have I drawn thee” and today they displayed that loving-kindness and just made Thanksgiving that much more special.”

Photo: Dallas Mavericks

This is the 15^th year of Buckner’s collaboration with the Mavs Foundation distributing Thanksgiving meals to vulnerable families in the community.

Later that week, on Nov. 22, the Texas Rangers hosted their 7^th annual Thanksgiving distribution where they distributed meals for 250 families served by the Buckner Family Hope Center at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.

Rangers players John Gray, Jonah Heim, and Leody Traveras passed out meals including turkeys and other traditional sides, again provided by Kroger. Buckner staff and volunteers were also in attendance, celebrating the season together through serving.

“The Rangers are a great example of how sports teams can unite and strengthen communities, on and off the field,” said Terri Peaks, Family Hope Center director, West Dallas. “Families matter, this community matters, and our heart at Buckner is to be a blessing which we have been able to do tonight thanks to their support.”