November 25, 2013
Warriors Tip Off Plays for the Holidays Campaign with Lucky Shopping Spree
Players, Coaches and Lucky Help Five Bay Area Families In Need By Providing Food for Thanksgiving
The Golden State Warriors tipped-off their Plays For The Holidays
community outreach initiative this holiday season with the Shop with the
Warriors event on Tuesday, November 19 at Lucky Supermarket in Alameda's
Marina Village shopping center. Warriors center Festus Ezeli, guard Klay Thompson
and assistant coaches Joe Boylan and Lindsey Hunter joined KTVU Channel 2
News reporter Sal Castaneda to surprise five Bay Area families in need during
this holiday season to take them on a food shopping spree to provide them
a full meal and more for Thanksgiving.
"We're here in Lucky Supermarkets bringing some holiday cheer and groceries to families who need it most this year," said Thompson.
Thompson met one of the families, Edvita Kelley and her three children, at the Lucky Supermarket entrance with a big hug and a personalized Golden State Warriors KELLEY jersey for each family member. As each Warriors player and coach met their family pairing, event emcee Sal Castaneda told the families that they will each receive $250 cards to enjoy a holiday shopping spree, courtesy of Lucky Supermarkets.
"Surprising these five families with an event like this is really what the spirit of the holidays are all about, and Lucky and the Warriors made this an unforgettable experience," said Castaneda.
The five families and their well-known shopping partners took off through the aisles of the Lucky Supermarket, stuffing their carts with turkeys, hams and pumpkin pies to make their traditional Thanksgiving feast a special one.
"The look on their faces, knowing that they will have a wonderful meal to eat this Thanksgiving and to seeing how excited these kids are made this a really special experience," said Ezeli.
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As each family stocked up on Thanksgiving essentials, with the children happily checking off the shopping list and players and coaches pushing carts down each Lucky Supermarket aisle, Hunter received a special reminder about the meaning of the holidays.
"To listen to what the Lovette family has gone through this year breaks my heart, and I'm happy that the Warriors and Lucky can do this for them," said Hunter. "Each of these families deserve all the blessings that come to them."
As families reached the checkout line, with Warriors players and coaches bagging groceries and playing with the children, Edvita Kelley became overwhelmed with gratitude for what Lucky and the Warriors did for her family today.
"It's been such a difficult year for our family, and Klay and the Warriors and Lucky don't understand how much this means to us and how grateful we are to participate in this," said Kelly.
After hugs were exchanged, autographs signed and groceries ready to be taken home, Lucky Supermarket Partnerships & Promotions Manager Mary Silva announced that each family would also receive an additional $100 Lucky Supermarket gift card as well as gift bags filled with household and holiday essentials.
"Our partnership with the Golden State Warriors to present the Shop with the Warriors holiday event gives us the opportunity to create amazing holiday memories for these five deserving families," said Silva.
The Plays for the Holidays outreach campaign is a part of
the NBA Cares Season of Giving, as the Warriors organization and each Warriors
player will participate in events this holiday season throughout the months
of November and December to help brighten the lives of local families and
youth throughout the Bay Area.