On deployment, overseas and away from family can be challenging and difficult, but on Saturday Thunder players gave back to ensure that U.S. Military troops felt support from back home during the holidays.
As a part of the NBA Cares Hoops for Troops initiative, Thunder players Mitch McGary, Grant Jerrett and Lance Thomas joined Thunder staff at The Hugs Project in Oklahoma City to put together care packages for those serving overseas. From comfort foods to clothes and gifts, the care packages provide soldiers with a slice of home while they are away. Local soldiers and other volunteers spent time with Thunder players today, and all in attendance felt great about being able to give back, particularly Jerrett, whose brother Adam is currently on duty for the Army in Texas.
“This means a lot to me because I have a lot of family that has served in the military and is in the military,” Jerrett said. “From the stories I hear, I know what they go through. They sacrifice a lot. It’s just little things like this that puts a smile on their face. Anything we can do to make them happy and their lives a little easier than what it is now, we should do that.”
Having U.S. Military personnel on site was wonderful to bring an authenticity to the event, as many of the soldiers in attendance had actually at one point received a package from The Hugs Project while serving overseas. With that experience, there was a distinct understanding of how it will feel when the soldiers receive the packages assembled by Thunder players on Saturday.
“Any care package while you’re overseas, deployed away from your family brightens your day,” Staff Sergeant Kenneth Thorne said. “It lets you know that people back here are thinking about you.”
Sometimes at community events, the commotion comes to a standstill when Thunder players arrive. That wasn’t the case on Saturday, as the well-oiled machine of The Hugs Project was humming the entire time. Thomas and Jerrett packed boxes while McGary assembled first aid kits, and much like an assembly line, the boxes were created efficiently.
Even though there was a lot of work being done, it was a special treat for the Thunder trio to be in attendance for volunteers like Lisa Watford, who was giddy about the opportunity to share her passion for giving back with McGary, Jerrett and Thomas.
“Having the Thunder players here is fantastic,” Watford said. “I’ve gotten to show the guys around, how to pack the boxes and how to tape the boxes. I’m having a fantastic time.”
Thunder players typically give back at schools and to local youths, so this was a special, unique opportunity to impact other citizens in the community. Even for a player like Thomas who has only been with the organization for a couple of months, it is becoming increasingly clear that the team tries to donate its time and energy to the community in meaningful, impactful ways.
As he’s seen at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the heart and soul of the Oklahoma City community is its people and their strength, and on Saturday, Thomas and company got to join them to thank those who protect the country to preserve what Oklahomans have built.
“This is amazing,” Thomas said. “We’re showing appreciation for people who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives to make sure that we’re safe.”
“I’m starting to realize how strong a community this is,” Thomas explained. “All the obstacles this community has had to overcome, but everybody is together. The things we’re doing is embodying what this city is about.”