"People are going through a lot, and I just want to make sure I do my part, seen and unseen" - Shaquille O'Neal teams up with Sheriff's Office for Thanksgiving treat at Henry County, Georgia
Shaquille O'Neal is teaming up with the Henry County Sheriff's Office for a Thanksgiving treat for the community. O'Neal understands how difficult it is for some families at this time of the year, especially with the post-COVID economy and inflation.
According to Michele Roberts of CBS News Atlanta, the Hall of Fame center decided to help the Henry County Sheriff's Office with their Thanksgiving project. They are giving away turkey, fried chicken, pie, fixings and other Thanksgiving treats to families on Nov. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The event will be called "Thanks for Giving Giveaway," and will be held in McDonough, Georgia, at the Tabernacle of Praise Church. Shaq has named the event "Shaqsgiving."
He said:
"People are going through a lot, and I just want to make sure I do my part, seen and unseen."
Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said that they also help families on a weekly basis as they want to ease the burden of the economic crisis by helping with rent or even through school expenses:
"We help probably 20 to 30 families per week now, helping with rent, utilities, helping a lot of our children in our schools. They're struggling as well, and so us doing this is definitely going to be a blessing to them this holiday season. And hopefully it'll offer hope to people, let them know they're not by themselves."
Back in July, the LA Lakers legend visited the kids and teens at the Shaquille O'Neal Boys & Girls Club of America in Henry County. The building was named after him because of his $1 million donation last year. Shaq credited the club for keeping him out of trouble while growing up in Newark, New Jersey.
Shaquille O'Neal has a passion for charity and making people happy
Shaquille O'Neal is known for being one of the most charitable people in the NBA and has been giving back to the community ever since he made it to the league in 1992. But where does his passion for making people happy come from?
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in August, O'Neal was asked by Kevin Frazier where his charitable nature came from. The four-time champ credited his parents, Lucille O'Neal and the late Phillip "Sarge" Harrison:
"I just like to make people smile. You guys call it giving back, (but) it's just something that I'd seen my mother and my father do growing up. And you know, for me, making a person smile is, like, my favorite thing."