D.C. athletes give back with free Thanksgiving meals for people in need: ‘This is my family’

Representatives from the Wizards, Commanders and Nationals embraced the holiday spirit this month by hosting several free events to distribute free Thanksgiving meals to families in need around the District and the surrounding area.

Players from each team said giving back was an easy choice. Fans support them through wins and losses, they said, so it’s only fair that they return the favor during the holiday season.

Some players, like Commanders center Tyler Biadasz and Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett, said they hope their events spark broader change.

“Maybe this passes on the message to have more events, not just on a holiday,” Biadasz said during a break in volunteering. “Having that envelope be pushed more because this is our world. We control it.”

The Wizards were among the first to host a Thanksgiving food drive this year, stepping away from their monthlong losing streak with an outreach event at Martha’s Table in Southeast in the District. Several players dished out bags full of vegetables and nonperishables to the needy last week.

“We go in and out of this community every day; we practice down the street, and it’d be a mistake on our part to just use it for that and not give back,” guard Corey Krispert told The Washington Informer. “It’s a big responsibility, and we don’t take it lightly. The little bit that we’re trying to help out makes me more excited to do it in the future.”

The Nationals followed suit this week with their annual “Turkeypalooza” at six events throughout the District. It kicked off at the team’s ballpark on Monday, where more than a dozen volunteers from Nationals Philanthropy and the franchise’s youth baseball academy lined up to hand out well-stocked bags to anyone who walked up.

Garrett, for the second year in a row, handed out turkeys and meal kits himself.

The free bags packaged by the Nationals and the BetMGM sportsbook contained fresh produce, shelf-stable food, winter hats and gloves.

The 29-year-old flashed a million-dollar smile as he shook hands and shared holiday pleasantries with families.

“It’s just nice to give back to the community that supports us during the season; to give them a Thanksgiving meal means a lot,” Garrett said.

Within 15 minutes, Garrett and his fellow volunteers distributed dozens of turkeys to more than a hundred people. The Nationals distributed more than 1,200 total turkeys this week.

“We’re from D.C.; I grew up here, so to actually see them give back and this magnitude, we really do appreciate it,” said Taylor McKeithan, who picked up food for her family and took photos with Screech. “Because we are in need, it helps out a lot, especially with grocery prices so high right now.”

McKeithan isn’t alone — D.C. Hunger estimates that 13.6% of households in D.C. struggle to regularly afford enough food for their families.

The Washington Commanders got in on the season of giving with a pair of events on Tuesday. The team hosted its annual harvest feast at Northwest Stadium in Maryland while Biadasz trekked to the District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services for an event hosted by his Center of Change foundation.

Inspired by his own struggles with mental health, the former Dallas Cowboy started the nonprofit in 2023 to address the overlap between food insecurity and mental health. It’s hard to live a healthy life when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, he said.

“With the platform I have, I want to use it the best way I can and hopefully inspire others to do the same,” Biadasz said during a break from boxing up nonperishable foods. “The little things will add up down the road. That’s how critical it can be.”

With help from city officials and MercyChefs, a nonprofit that often provides meals for people affected by disasters, Biadasz helped pack 130 boxes. Each package was densely stuffed; volunteers estimated that they provided more than 5,000 total meals with the sheer amount of food in each box.

Biadasz said the event was a no-brainer, especially because of the way the city embraced him during his first season with the Commanders.

“This is my family now. Wherever I may be, this is part of us,” Biadasz said. “Being able to play a kid’s game and live out my dream, but my dream is to help others along the way. I think it makes a really big impact down the road.”