Tradition.
Everyone has them, especially during the holidays.
Despite the pandemic, one of the great Thanksgiving traditions continues as Bengals players gave back to their communities.
Defensive tackle Geno Atkins and his wife Kristen hosted their third Annual 'Atkins Week of Giving' – this year dubbed 'Atkins Week of Giving Thanks.' Taking place during the week of Thanksgiving, the Atkins family surprised and celebrated over 800 individuals that were nominated by their loved ones or colleagues for going above and beyond throughout this challenging year.
With an emphasis on celebrating essential and frontline individuals, they surprised everyone from an entire hospital floor of healthcare workers, to grocery store employees, nursing home staff, to educators throughout Cincinnati, delivery drivers, and many others. Over $45,000 was allocated for these surprises."
Rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins' collaborated with the Freestore Foodbank to donate Thanksgiving boxes to 50 families with children, ages 5 - 17 years old. Each family received a box filled with ingredients to enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving meal and provided with a $50 gift card for additional groceries.
The donation was in support of Freestore Foodbank's mission to "improve lives by eliminating hunger in partnership with our community." The giveaway was facilitated by Freestore Foodbank and school volunteers at the high school located in Dayton, Kentucky.
Another rookie, offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji, adopted a family from the Boys and Girls Club (BGCA) of CINCI for Thanksgiving. Adeniji dropped off the box of grocery gift cards and an autographed football to a family in need of a home.
Defensive tackle Freedom Akinmoladun donated 40,000 pounds of fresh produce and Kroger gift cards to be distributed to families in need in Greater Cincinnati.
Additionally, the Bengals gifted fifty military families in the Cincinnati area with all of the essentials for a Thanksgiving dinner. Forty-eight of those families received $100 Kroger gift cards, while two families were surprised by Who Dey, who completed all of their holiday shopping and delivered their groceries.
The Thanksgiving tradition lives on and for that we are grateful.
