The Los Angeles Lakers and Sparks celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday by holding their annual Thanksgiving Celebration for two hundred families on Saturday, November 22. Lakers Kareem Rush, Jannero Pargo, Brian Cook and Luke Walton, Sparks Lisa Leslie, Sparks Assistant Coaches Karleen Thompson and Ryan Weisenberg, and the Laker Girls were in attendance to help distribute fresh produce and groceries to families at P.A.T.H. (People Assisting the Homeless) in Los Angeles.

Families from P.A.T.H. and the local East Hollywood and Rampart neighborhoods were invited to participate in a fun afternoon of games and interactive fan zones and had the opportunity to meet members of both teams, receive autographs and take photos. Food 4 Less and Melissa’s generously donated all the items necessary for the families to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Each family received two bags full of potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, corn, yams, green beans, fresh fruit, and a $25 gift certificate good towards the purchase of a turkey and other groceries necessary to complete their dinner.

The Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Lakers Youth Foundation strive to assist as many people as possible by holding annual events such as the Thanksgiving Celebration at a different community organization each year. Last year, the Venice Community Housing Corporation was the lucky recipient and two years ago, the food giveaway was held at A Place Called Home.

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