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Kansas City Tackles Hunger
Kansas City, Kansas -- Kansas City Chiefs coach Peter Giunta led players Mike Maslowski, Derrick Ransom, Tony Richardson, and Victor Allotey in joining the Kansas City Royals in a different kind of game last Saturday. Under this second annual event's theme of, "Two Teams, One Goal", the guys took time for their less fortunate fans by supporting a OBI Hunger Strike Force (HSF) food distribution at Kansas City's JFK Recreation Center!
Last Saturday morning was hot and sunny as James wheeled himself over to the JFK Recreation Center. He had heard about a food distribution through a Kansas City Housing Authority notice. In the distance he could see a forklift unloading nutritious goods from two HSF tractor-trailers while more than 260 volunteers representing Southwestern Bell, Kansas City Kansas Community College, UMC of the Resurrection and other participating agencies bagged grocery bags. The 55-year-old Vietnam Veteran receives a weekly disability check, but it doesn't cover all of his needs. “I am thankful to you all [Operation Blessing and Kansas City Chiefs and Royals] for caring about us," expressed James while standing in line to receive the needed food. "It’s a great thing you all do to help us folk. Thank you so much.”
Pallets of items including potatoes, onions, cereal, canned vegetables, pasta, and drinks were packed into 3,000 grocery bags for both adult guests that were present as well as local shut-ins. Activities included Kansas City Chief players signing autographs and a clown giving away balloons to 1,000 young guests. Each child received a bag filled with a T-shirt, candy, snacks, a pen, books, as well as baseball and football cards.
Shelly's two children enjoyed their bags of goodies and met the professional athletes as their mother picked up the family's groceries. Right now Shelly supports the family because her husband hasn't been able to find a job. “I came last year. The groceries helped us a lot. Thank you for doing this again.”
As event manager for this distribution, OBI's Curtis Williams expressed, "It was a pleasure to work with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and the Wyandotte County Boys & Girls Club. So many lives were touched by their efforts!"
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