Adam Thielen donates 1,000 frozen turkeys
The number 19 is now a little more special to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen. On a date that bore his game jersey number – Nov. 19 – the all-star wideout and his family delivered frozen turkeys and warm smiles to dozens of people and families in Maplewood. (See photos.)
Thielen, his wife Caitlin and their young son spent an hour at the Maplewood Salvation Army handing out 100 Jenni-O turkeys, posing for photos and signing autographs. The event came to be after Jenni-O donated 1,000 turkeys to the Thielen Foundation, which called upon The Salvation Army to help in the distribution.
“We have great partners and great people who want to help out the community and who have the same mindset as my wife and I,” Thielen said. “God has given us a great opportunity and we are going to try to give back to this community as much as we can. It’s a lot of fun.”
Many of the people and families who received a turkey were dressed in Vikings apparel, including a St. Paul resident named Sandy. She loves the Vikings and was grateful to receive a turkey from Thielen.
“My daughter and I are going to have this bird at her house for Thanksgiving,” said Sandy (pictured). “We’ll also have stuffing, corn and sweet potatoes, and my daughter said she might make some corn bread.”
Sandy often donates to The Salvation Army as a thank you for the rare occasions when she must rely on our food shelves.
“I don’t use the food shelf every month, but I need it sometimes,” she said. “The Salvation Army is a worthy cause. I love their programs.”
Representatives from Jenni-O also came to support the event, including the company’s president, Steve Lykken.
“Food insecurity and hunger are priorities for us, so it’s critical that we participate when we have opportunities like this,” Lykken said.
Thielen enjoyed distributing the turkeys and meeting the people his foundation supports.
“It’s great to talk with them, talk a little football, have fun, and see a smile on their face,” he said.
The Salvation Army will distribute the remaining 900 turkeys at our operation centers throughout the Twin Cities.
Thousands of hardworking families are battling poverty in Minnesota and North Dakota. You can help them win by donating $25 a month or becoming a bell ringer. Join The Salvation Army this Christmas season and #FightForGood.