Written by Brian Pohl
Atlanta, GA- Ahead of their road matchup with the New Orleans Saints next Thursday on Thanksgiving, the Atlanta Falcons are taking advantage of being home the week before, spending the days leading up to the holiday giving back to their Atlanta community through their organization’s outreach efforts.
The festivities started on Monday, where Falcons Specialists in kicker’s Matt Bryant and Giorgio Tavecchio, punter Matt Bosher, and long-snapper Josh Harris attended a Thanksgiving dinner at the women’s shelter Atlanta Mission: My Sister’s House. The Falcons players helped serve food, also taking pictures and signing autographs for the women and children at the shelter.
Falcons long-snapper Josh Harris on helping out his local community ahead of Thanksgiving, “It’s an awesome night, to be able to give back and see the gratitude and the excitement on their face, to be able to share a meal together and be able to have that time to shower them with love and generosity and see how it affects them and it affects us as well.”
My Sister’s House is a local women’s shelter in Atlanta that provides customized care to every woman and children that seeks their aide while also delivering the basic needs of food and shelter.
Tuesday saw the Falcons team up with Publix Supermarkets for their third-annual Falcons Feast, which saw Falcons offensive linemen, as well as associates from the Blank Family of Businesses and the Falcons organization, pass out Thanksgiving meals to families in need in the Westside Metro of Atlanta.
With over 800 Thanksgiving meals delivered, the Falcons were able to deliver traditional turkey dinners to families who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to celebrate in time for the holiday.
Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono on being a part of Falcons Feast, “It’s a really good feeling. Events like this are definitely needed and I’m glad the offensive line got to get together to do this. Everyone is happy to be out here doing this. It’s a good event, giving away some meals and we’re enjoying ourselves.”
On Tuesday night, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett visited Atlanta Mission: Shepherd’s Inn for the second-straight year, providing and helping serve dinner to the men at the shelter alongside his mom Elisha and Falcons assistant general manager Scott Pioli.
Grady Jarrett on returning to Shepherd’s Inn for a second-straight year, “Giving back is very important, especially in this holiday season. We wanted to make it a special experience for the men involved so they had a lot of fun. It was good to be able to provide them with good spirits and good vibes, they really had a great time!”
Shepherd’s Inn is a men’s homeless shelter located in the heart of Atlanta, right next to Centennial Olympic Park, and every day they serve up to 450 men with the goal of shepherding them, one at a time, into a new life of independent living. Shepherd’s Inn provides the men with hot meals, a comfortable place to sleep, and interaction with staff that listens and helps create customized plans to move forward.
Although the Falcons will be away next week for Thanksgiving, the team is doing a great job of making a great impact in their local Atlanta community ahead of the holiday, delivering meals and making their presence known among those less fortunate in this time of giving.
(Image Courtesy: Atlanta Falcons)
