http://www.nba.com/pistons/community/gi ... 91125.htmlGiving Back, Big Time
From Pistons CEO Tom Wilson to veteran players like center Kwame Brown and guard Chucky Atkins, Tuesday’s food distribution event at Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit was a sight to behold. But they couldn’t look long. They were among the 300 volunteers loading boxes of food, personal care items and even turkeys into passing vehicles so that families in need could enjoy their own Thanksgiving meal. In addition to the food distribution event at Second Ebenezer Church, the Pistons organized two additional events that occurred simultaneously. All told, 8,000 families in need received some assistance to brighten their holiday season. “This is the largest single-day food drop ever in Michigan, and we’re really proud to have been a part of this,” Wilson said. “It’s really fun and it’s great to see some smiling faces for the holidays.”Tuesday's happenings were funded by the Pistons Care Telethon, which raised more than $450,000 for the nonprofit group Feed The Children last March. “As much as we may have facilitated this, a big pat on the back goes to the thousands of people in this city that contributed to help make this possible,” Wilson said. The Pistons and Feed The Children have partnered with dozens of nonprofit agencies and food banks to host similar events throughout the state since last spring. Thirty semi-trailers full of food and supplies had been distributed over the past seven months. To put Tuesday’s event in perspective, the Pistons and Feed the Children unloaded an additional 20 semi-trailers in just four hours.
Fifteen were distributed at the events while another five went to Detroit food banks. The partnering agencies with Tuesday's events were Gleaners’ Food Bank, Vanguard Community Development Corporation, Brightmoor Alliance and Loaves and Fishes of Southwest Michigan. “I haven’t seen anything like this,” Brown said. “The Pistons, some teams they do it once a year, but the Pistons are consistent with always giving back during every holiday." Brown added to the event out of his own pocket, as did Ben Gordon. The two Pistons players teamed up with Meijer to donate 400 turkeys, which families received at the end of the distribution line - sometimes from Brown himself. "It makes you feel great, it makes you feel thankful for what you have,” Brown said. “Just gives you a humbleness to know you’re that much more blessed. It’s always good to give back during the holidays." Brown, Wilson and Pistons majority owner Karen Davidson delivered the turkeys to families as they drove through the church parking lot. Gordon, with a case of the sniffles, was unable to attend, but Chucky Atkins, Jason Maxiell and rookies Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers were on hand to load boxes into cars. “To see people look at him and say, this is Kwame Brown giving me my food - it’s a thrill for them and you see the faces light up as they pull up,” Wilson said. “That’s a great thing.”
Atkins, who spent three and a half seasons with the Pistons from 2000-04, said he’s noticed a greater emphasis on community involvement since he rejoined the team this summer. Under the circumstances, he’s all for it. “When I was here before, we did certain things but never to this magnitude,” Atkins said. “Right now is definitely a time to be giving, not simply because of the holidays but you’re living in a bad situation as far as the economy so people need a little extra help, a little extra boost. I think it’s up to the Pistons, and people who have, to provide that to other people who need it.” The Pistons aren’t done yet. They plan to conduct even more food distribution events around Christmastime, bringing their total of Feed The Children truck deliveries to 64 by January. “I think we’re very lucky that people listen to athletes,” Wilson said. “We should be listening to teachers, we should be listening to parents, but as long as athletes have a voice … then it’s our responsibility to give positive messages and support the people in this community as often as we possibly can.”
