NATICK, Mass. (Nov. 10, 2015) -- Approximately 200 meals were distributed by Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and his family Nov. 2, at the Stevens Family Thanksgiving Meal Distribution Event at the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Along with the Stevens family and the Celtics' front office employees, 15 Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participated in the event.
Chief Warrant Officer Cortez Frazier, an aerial delivery chief at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, said the event was a success.
"The Soldiers did a great job by helping the moms carry the four full bags of groceries to their cars, and the players and coaches were very helpful and caring," Frazier said. "My wife and I have been looking to get more involved with the community, especially with helping to feed the homeless."
Frazier's wife, a social worker at the Brockton Veterans Affairs hospital, helps veterans with a number of services, such as finding adequate shelter and food.
"I have served my country for more than 30 years, and it really saddens me to see people homeless and starving in this great country of ours," Frazier said. "In the past, I have worked with local grocery stores to help utilize their baked goods [by] providing them to homeless shelters and other food banks."
Stevens said this food distribution event is very important to him and his family.
"I think the biggest thing is just the opportunity to come out and lend a hand in November, which is a huge month for the Boston Food Bank," Stevens said. "Nutrition has always been a big thing for our family. It's always been something we've been really passionate about."
The GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and distributes more than 50 million pounds of food each year to help provide wholesome meals to nearly half a million people. The GBFB is also among the largest food banks in the country and remains committed to increasing their food distribution to provide at least one meal per day to every person in eastern Massachusetts who is in need.
Through product donations, food drives and financial contributions, the GBFB is able to sustain those community members.
This year, the Stevens family worked shoulder-to-shoulder with service members as a part of the NBA Cares Commitment to Service program. This comprehensive partnership brings together the National Basketball Association and the Department of Defense to benefit the community.
The joint venture supports local communities and hundreds of thousands of active and retired armed forces members, and their Families, each year. The program, based on the four pillars, community, health, leadership and transition, is in its second year.
Stevens said working with service members was an added touch to this year's event.
"To have the troops here this year helping us, it's a fantastic collaborative effort," Stevens said. "We couldn't be more thankful for what they do for our country and for us to all get together and hand [the Thanksgiving meals] out is pretty special."
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