The Miami Dolphins hosted a special food giveaway at Sun Life Stadium and Miami Beach where participants received much needed food for the Thanksgiving holiday season.
“It is a continuation of a great annual tradition that we are a part of each year,” said Mike Dee, Dolphins CEO. “We have taken it to a new level both here at the stadium and with the giveaway at Miami Beach. All in, we will feed over 20,000 people through the generosity of our partners with Publix, players and staff. It is a great time and we are very fortunate to be in the position to make a difference and impact so many people in a positive way.”
In conjunction with the Feeding South Florida Formerly the Daily Bread Food Bank, Dolphins players, alumni and staff distributed meals to a number of different agencies that provide a variety of services to South Florida residents. The Dolphins delivered more than 1,000 meals to families at Sun Life Stadium through monetary donations from players and purchased from Publix. In addition, Pepsi provided a two-liter product for every meal distributed at Sun Life Stadium. The organization also delivered approximately 800 individual turkeys to individuals and families in need that were distributed at Miami Beach Senior High School.
“They were over 1,000 families at the stadium today and each box can feed 10 people in a family. That’s a tremendous impact,” said Anthea Pennant, Director of Development for Feeding South Florida. “We had families coming in from Ft. Lauderdale, Homestead, Miami and Palm Beach. It’s an absolute wonderful partnership with the Dolphins, Publix Supermarkets and Feeding South Florida. Every year we get the opportunity to come out and take part in something so magnificent and we are thankful for everyone’s participation and support.”
Miami-Dade County Commissioners Lynda Bell, José “Pepe” Diaz and Carlos A. Gimenez joined Dee, Jeanette Sparano, Nat Moore, cheerleaders, special teams volunteers and alumni joined a host of players including Ike Alama-Francis, Davone Bess, Vernon Carey, Patrick Cobbs, Dan Carpenter, Vontae Davis, John Denney, Brandon Fields, Kendall Langford, Jake Long, Tony McDaniel, Quentin Moses, Lydon Murtha, Nate Ness, Lousaka Polite, Sean Smith and Paul Soliai took part in this morning festivities at Sun Life Stadium.
“My kids got a chance to meet some of the players and had a ball. It was a beautiful thing“, said Katina Uptgrow, a Miramar resident that received a Thanksgiving meal at Sun Life Stadium and was joined by defensive back Sean Smith who distributed the food to her directly. “It was certainly a blessing for us and I thank the Miami Dolphins, Publix, Pepsi and Feeding South Florida for everything they did for us today.”
Players said they received just as much excitement as the participants.
“Today was very important because it is a chance for us to give back to the community,” said punter Brandon Fields. “With the holidays coming up, it means a lot to use or time to help distribute food and help out the less fortunate.”
“This was my first time at the stadium and it was awesome,” said Sharon Robinson from Miramar, who was accompanied to the meal distribution at the stadium by her two-month old daughter, Cassandra and was joined by Fields. “The event was very well coordinated and I have a big family, so we are fortunate to be able to provide everyone with a great meal during Thanksgiving.”
Turkeys were also distributed at Miami Beach High School with the help of current players A.J. Edds and Austin Spitler, alumni Dick Anderson, Charles Bennett, Nat Moore and James Pruitt. They were joined by City of Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Commissioners Jerry Libbin, Deede Weithorn and Jonah Wolfson and members of the Miami Beach High School football team.
“This is great. I am a single parent with five kids,“ said Viankeline Hernandez, a Miami Beach resident that received a turkey at Miami Beach High School. “I was able to get a turkey and it was great, a life saver.”
