With Veterans Day around the corner, the Mavs Foundation and Kroger teamed up to host their annual Hoops for Troops Commitment to Service project at the Salvation Army of North Texas.
Mavs legend Devin Harris joined men and women from the 301st Fighter Wing Joint Reserve to pack meals for community members facing food insecurity and homelessness and penned holiday letters for active-duty military members.
Major Paul McFarland, Area Commander for the Salvation Army of North Texas, says over 100 veterans stay in their shelters each night. Through VA services, guests also receive counseling, job referrals, and help finding permanent housing.
With support from community partners and dedicated volunteers, Major McFarland expects 75 percent to find housing solutions within a year.
Commitment to community is at the forefront of the Dallas Mavericks mission, made possible with help from former players like Harris, who has a personal connection to the annual Veterans Day service initiative.
“They do so much for us already,” Harris said of the Air Force Reserves he volunteered alongside at the Hoops for Troops event. “For them to give their free time to come and help other veterans motivates you to do more.
“For me, I have family members that are vets…and the way I was raised, if you have the time to give, not just around the Holidays, but anytime, I try to extend my time and do the most.”
As a team, Harris, the service members, and a handful of volunteers from the Mavs front office were able to package 250 meal kits in less than an hour, restocking the Salvation Army’s food pantry at the Carr P. Collins Social Service Center.
Kroger provided $5,000 worth of pantry essentials to stuff grab-and-go bags, including dried pasta, peanut butter, canned vegetables and tuna.
Volunteers also divided up to reflect ahead of Veterans Day and handwrite holiday cards for active-duty service members stationed across the globe this holiday season.
“We can lift each other up in the community, and that’s what we do— we feed the human spirit at Kroger,” said John Votava, director of corporate affairs for Kroger. “We want to provide that uplift in the community, and we do that by partnering with [the Mavericks and Salvation Army] to make sure that we are providing access to food and essentials for those that need it in the community.”
The Mavs Foundation and Kroger will continue supporting North Texans facing food insecurity during the holiday season and beyond.
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