Hornets Believe: Hornets Players Distribute Thanksgiving Meals
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Due to the hectic nature of the basketball schedule, NBA players often celebrate Thanksgiving in a hotel on the road, or by preparing for the next game with a team practice. Last November, the Hornets actually played a game on Thanksgiving, a national TV contest at Denver.
This year, however, the league’s schedule-maker was much kinder to the Hornets, giving them three days off between Wednesday and Sunday games. For David West – one of five Hornets players who handed out Thanksgiving meals to families on the weekend of Nov. 20-21 – this Turkey Day marks the first time since he was a junior in high school that he was able to return home to North Carolina for the holiday.
“My mom is excited,” said the two-time All-Star power forward, grinning. “This will be the first time in a while we’ve all been able to get together as a family.”
While the seven-year NBA veteran looked forward to his visit to the Carolinas, on Friday, Nov. 20, he also helped make the holiday more enjoyable for families in the New Orleans area by distributing Thanksgiving food at the Rouses supermarket on Tchoupitoulas Street. West was joined that day at area Rouses stores by teammates Devin Brown, Julian Wright and Bobby Brown, combining to distribute over 800 meals to families of students from the New Orleans Recovery School District.
The students earned the reward by attaining perfect attendance in school, as part of the Hornets’ and the Salvation Army’s “Emerge” program.
“Around the holidays, it’s a great opportunity to give people the ability to enjoy a good, hearty, healthy meal,” West said of personally distributing meals to families. “And at the same time, we’re rewarding the kids for doing the right things in school. We’re rewarding them not just for being there (with perfect attendance), but also for being good students.”
On Saturday, Nov. 21, Chris Paul, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton distributed meals to families at the New Orleans Arena, following the Hornets’ team preparations for their home game later that evening against Atlanta.
“It’s an opportunity for the kids to do more than just see us on TV,” West said of the in-person nature of appearing in the community. “They get to see us up close and personal.”
Asked what he’s most thankful for this year, the husband and father of two youngsters said, “having healthy children. That’s all I can ask for.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Due to the hectic nature of the basketball schedule, NBA players often celebrate Thanksgiving in a hotel on the road, or by preparing for the next game with a team practice. Last November, the Hornets actually played a game on Thanksgiving, a national TV contest at Denver.
This year, however, the league’s schedule-maker was much kinder to the Hornets, giving them three days off between Wednesday and Sunday games. For David West – one of five Hornets players who handed out Thanksgiving meals to families on the weekend of Nov. 20-21 – this Turkey Day marks the first time since he was a junior in high school that he was able to return home to North Carolina for the holiday.
“My mom is excited,” said the two-time All-Star power forward, grinning. “This will be the first time in a while we’ve all been able to get together as a family.”
While the seven-year NBA veteran looked forward to his visit to the Carolinas, on Friday, Nov. 20, he also helped make the holiday more enjoyable for families in the New Orleans area by distributing Thanksgiving food at the Rouses supermarket on Tchoupitoulas Street. West was joined that day at area Rouses stores by teammates Devin Brown, Julian Wright and Bobby Brown, combining to distribute over 800 meals to families of students from the New Orleans Recovery School District.
The students earned the reward by attaining perfect attendance in school, as part of the Hornets’ and the Salvation Army’s “Emerge” program.
“Around the holidays, it’s a great opportunity to give people the ability to enjoy a good, hearty, healthy meal,” West said of personally distributing meals to families. “And at the same time, we’re rewarding the kids for doing the right things in school. We’re rewarding them not just for being there (with perfect attendance), but also for being good students.”
On Saturday, Nov. 21, Chris Paul, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton distributed meals to families at the New Orleans Arena, following the Hornets’ team preparations for their home game later that evening against Atlanta.
“It’s an opportunity for the kids to do more than just see us on TV,” West said of the in-person nature of appearing in the community. “They get to see us up close and personal.”
Asked what he’s most thankful for this year, the husband and father of two youngsters said, “having healthy children. That’s all I can ask for.”
