Miami Dolphins continue longstanding tradition by impacting over 10,000 people through Thanksgiving Meal Distribution

Miami Dolphins continue longstanding tradition by impacting over 10,000 people through Thanksgiving Meal Distribution

By Jason Jenkins

     MIAMI GARDENS,  FL — The Miami Dolphins and Feeding South Florida hosted multiple special food giveaways at Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University, Sun Life Stadium, Miami-Dade County Hall and Oak Grove Park at Little Haiti where participants from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties received much needed food for the Thanksgiving holiday season. In all, more than 900 meals were distributed and over 10,000 people were touched and benefited from this year’s Thanksgiving meals distribution.

     “When I bought the team the important thing was really connecting with the community, participating in the community and enhancing the community and bringing it together,” said Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross. “I think you can see today what an event like this does. It’s something that you feel good about being a participant.”

The distributions started Sunday, November 18, at Oak Grove Park in Little Haiti and continued on Tuesday, November 20 at Sun Life Stadium. This afternoon, Dolphins players, coaches and members of the Miami Dolphins Women’s Organization (MDWO) donated money to provide 750 Thanksgiving meals to families from Miami Dade and Broward Counties in conjunction with the Feeding South Florida at Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. The team, along with cheerleaders and T.D., distributed Thanksgiving meals from Publix and drinks, courtesy of Pepsi, to preselected families at the team’s training facility. Earlier today, a meal distribution took place at Sun Life Stadium with Dolphins alumni, MDWO members and community leaders.

     The Miami Dolphins have donated Thanksgiving meals to families in need throughout South Florida since 1992 and participants said they are appreciative of the annual event.

     “This is a blessing that we can’t really put into words very well,” said Brian Phelan, Director of Food Procurement for Feeding South Florida. “People have empty refrigerators down here and what we’re able to do with this event, these folks look forward to this like Christmas and this is a blessing. They get to meet their favorite team and they get to be fed at the same time. It doesn’t get any better than this.”