Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen helps Rescue Christmas for five families
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and his wife Caitlin have helped Rescue Christmas for five families served by The Salvation Army. (View photos.)
On Dec. 21, Thielen and his wife hand-delivered presents to two of the five families, all of whom are enrolled in a Salvation Army mentoring program called Pathway of Hope. To ensure health and safety, the Thielens gave the gifts to the families outside their homes.
One of the families included St. Paul couple Rick and Emily and their seven kids, ages 2 to 15. Money has been tight for the family after Emily was forced to leave her full-time job in order to manage distance learning for her children. The family lives in a four-bedroom house where everybody shares a room. If not for the gifts the Thielens delivered, Rick and Emily would not have been able to give their children nearly as many Christmas presents.
“We only would have been able to give each of our kids a few little things,” Emily said. “This is such a great help. We most appreciate the authenticity – you can tell that Adam and his family actually care, like they’re one of us.”
In addition to the toys, games, clothes, and other gifts that Thielen gave the families on behalf of the Thielen Foundation, each family also received a new computer to help with distance learning, courtesy of Microsoft, and delicious food donated by Let’s Dish. This is the fourth year in a row that Thielen has helped Rescue Christmas for families in need, on behalf of the Thielen Foundation.
“We’re excited to do this again – these families deserve it,” Thielen said. “We have great partners and we thank them for helping us fill this need.”
Enlist in Love’s Army by giving a donation or ringing bells at a red kettle. Your gifts of time and money will help Rescue Christmas for people and families struggling to get through the pandemic.