In honor of Veterans' Day and in preparation for Thanksgiving, the Chicago Bears, Bears Care, Jewel-Osco and Miller Lite partnered with Operation Homefront to distribute 400 turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to military families in the Chicago area.
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The 2013 Bears rookie class, including David Bass, Jonathan Bostic, Michael Ford, Rogers Gaines, Khaseem Greene, Demontre Hurst, Kyle Long, Jordan Mills, Christian Tupou, Cornelius Washington, C.J. Wilson and Marquess Wilson, were on-hand at the Jewel-Osco store in Gurnee on Monday, November 18. The rookies signed autographs and took pictures with veterans and their families, and made holiday bags that included turkeys and other traditional Thanksgiving foods.
The following day, Bears alumni players Jason McKie and Adrian Peterson, along with mascot Staley Da Bear, visited the Jewel-Osco in Stickney to visit with veterans and distribute turkeys.
Participating families at each location received a turkey, canned goods, stuffing, and a $30 Jewel-Osco gift card. The families were selected by Operation Homefront, have dependent children, and were recommended by their chaplains, commanding officers, and civilian support staff of military units in the area.
The Bears also supported the Wounded Warrior Project and their Stars & Strikes bowling event at Viper Alley in Lincolnshire on Tuesday, November 12. Tight end Fendi Onubun, alumni players Robin Earl, Keith Van Horne, and Donnell Woolford, along with representatives from the Chicago Bulls, joined over 80 wounded warriors and their families for an evening of bowling, food and fun.
Additionally, the Chicago Bears made a $5,000 monetary donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
