In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, several members of the Philadelphia Eagles were active throughout Philly and neighboring communities, contributing their time and resources to organizations focused on addressing hunger and supporting families. Their involvement spanned South Philadelphia, Camden, Chester, Norristown, and additional counties, forming a detailed picture of holiday outreach grounded entirely in documented actions.
Jaelan Phillips, who arrived in Philadelphia less than a month earlier, volunteered with his fiancée, Samantha, at Philabundance in South Philadelphia. They worked with about 20 staff members and volunteers to sort food drive donations that would later be packaged and delivered across nine counties. Philabundance operates with the mission to “drive hunger from the community today and end hunger for good,” and Phillips directly participated in the sorting process. After volunteering, he said, “It’s incredible to be able to come here,” and described the importance of addressing food insecurity and using the platform of an NFL athlete to help.
According to Chief Food Sourcing Officer Lauren Webb, staff and volunteers at Philabundance were glad to have Phillips on-site. His appearance reflected the same approach he demonstrates through the Jaelan Phillips Foundation, which provides youth access to music education and sports programs. His previous team, the Miami Dolphins, named him their 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for initiatives that included a 100-mile ride for the Dolphins Challenge Cancer event, working with incarcerated youth, and supporting marginalized communities. He has described giving back as a privilege and stated that players have a responsibility to set an example for others.
Alongside his efforts, several Eagles players used portions of a $250,000 donation from Amazon—awarded to the team for playing on Black Friday—to support Thanksgiving programs. At the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, Quinyon Mitchell, Fred Johnson, and Joshua Uche assisted with a Thanksgiving Meal Distribution. Saquon Barkley joined ACME to raise funds for the Norristown School District, where he also took photos and signed autographs, and later participated in a separate meal distribution through the ACME Markets Foundation. Tyler Steen served a warm holiday meal to veterans through the Love Pray Peace Project. Jordan Davis joined a Salvation Army Thanksgiving Meal Distribution. Nakobe Dean helped serve turkey dinners at Chester Community Distribution and participated in a meal distribution at the Kipp School. Jalyx Hunt provided Thanksgiving meals, side dishes, clothing, and coats. Eagles rookies handed out 100 complete Thanksgiving meals in partnership with Silvi Materials and the Parkside Association of Philadelphia.
Davis also visited the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Camden, New Jersey. Children decorated crafts, shared turkey meals, and then gathered in the gym, where his call of “White 80, set hut!” echoed as they attempted to catch his passes. He helped distribute the first 60 turkeys of the center’s planned 1,400-turkey giveaway and stayed for a Thanksgiving meal with the children. During the visit, he said, “Football and life have a lot of lessons that co-exist in each other. If it weren’t for sports, I would know nothing about leadership.”
Twelve-year-old Hector Rosario, who regularly attends events at the center, said the experience showed him that people can help others regardless of their circumstances. His mother, Veronica Ramirez, said that having players visit “around the holidays is such a blessing,” and added that volunteering is a group effort involving everyone from community members to leadership.
The organizations the players supported continue to face significant demand. Feeding America’s 2023 report recorded that more than 210,000 residents of Philadelphia—13.6% of the city—experience food insecurity. The report also documented disparities, with 22% of Black families and 23% of Hispanic families lacking reliable access to nutritious food. In neighboring Camden County, New Jersey, 12.7% of residents—66,570 people—experienced food insecurity in 2023. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Pennsylvania devoted more than $40 million to food banks, farmers’ market vouchers, and related programs in response to what state officials described as a “growing hunger crisis.”
Ramirez described the value of the programs her son participates in, and Davis said those programs are closely connected to his own childhood, when his family received support from the Salvation Army. He described the opportunity to volunteer as a way to use the skills he has developed over the years and the community service he received as a child.
Rosario said the center provides a place where he can set aside worry and enjoy himself, and added that he has learned “it’s not what you win, it’s what you do for the Lord.”
