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JB MDL, 76ers assist community dish out 300 turkeys

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class marks a ticket that allows a child to receive a turkey during an event held to help local families during the holiday season at the Wissahickon Boys and Girls Club in Philadelphia Nov. 25, 2014. Service members from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst teamed up with players from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a Department of Defense initiative called Commitment to Service, which links the country’s premier athletes and military members to serve their communities with hopes of building strong and compassionate communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas/Released)

JB MDL, 76ers assist community dish out 300 turkeys

Service members from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and the Philadelphia 76ers teamed up to hand out 300 turkeys to area families at the Wissahickon Boys and Girls Club in Philadelphia Nov. 25, 2014. The event was a part of a Department of Defense initiative called Commitment to Service, which links the country’s premier athletes and military members to serve their communities with hopes of building strong and compassionate communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas/Released)

JB MDL, 76ers assist community dish out 300 turkeys

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Carrie Volpe and Philadelphia 76ers center Henry Sims hand out turkeys during an event to help under privileged families at the Wissahickon Boys and Girls Club in Philadelphia Nov. 25, 2014. Service members from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and basketball players from the Sixers teamed up to hand out 300 turkeys to families in the area for the holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas/Released)

JB MDL service members, 76ers assist community dishing out 300 turkeys

Published Nov. 26, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA -- Service members from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and the Philadelphia 76ers teamed up to hand out 300 turkeys to area families at the Wissahickon Boys and Girls Club in Philadelphia Nov. 25, 2014.

The event was a part of a Department of Defense initiative called Commitment to Service, which links the country's premier athletes and military members to serve their communities with hopes of building strong and compassionate communities.

"I think this is a great thing here," said U.S. Marine Corps. Sgt. Maurice Givens, event volunteer. "It is incredibly important that we as a military come out and support our local communities. Where I'm from is also a less fortunate area, so as I got older I promised I would give back any way possible."

While the DOD initiative linked the service members and the Sixers organization, it is also one of the joint base commander's top priorities to build strong partnerships with the community.

"I really enjoy getting out and volunteering around the communities here, but I have never been a part of something this major and impactful," said U.S. Army Spc. Cody Richards, event volunteer. "Helping families is an amazing thing, but more so this time of year. We are not just handing out a turkey. This will give families the chance to sit down together for dinner and become closer during the holiday season."

Although events like these are more common for Sixers center Henry Sims, he said happenings like these are always very important for the community.

"It's great to show our connection with the city like this," he said. "It's a tough town and it is only right that we come together and show our love for the community, especially the kids."

Along with providing 300 families a turkey for the holiday season, the children had an opportunity to meet and take pictures with the basketball players and dance team.