It's not often Karli finds someone who can match the energy of her 2- and 3-year-old sons.

She couldn't stop smiling, though, when she found just that in Vikings rookie Walter Rouse.

It's probably not too comfortable for a 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle to get down on the floor, but Rouse didn't hesitate to do so with Karli's sons earlier this month during the Vikings Winter Wonderland event sponsored by 3M.

"Wow, do you like Spider-Man?" Rouse asked the older of toddlers, pointing to the superhero embroidered on a tiny red sweatshirt. "He's my favorite! Do you have web shooters, too?"

Rouse laughed in genuine delight as the youngster worked to bend his fingers into "web shooter" form, and the two walked together through the Minnesota Vikings Museum spreading imaginary strings of web across the exhibits.

"This has been such a wonderful experience," Karli said. "The fact that Walter's able to get on my 3-year-old's level, and have the same energy as him, they've been dancing around here all night. He's been signing jerseys and building bears and taking him wherever he goes."

Rouse certainly seemed to make a new best friend during the evening that welcomed youth and staff members from The Link for a special evening of holiday festivities. Established in 1991 by Vikings Legends Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed, The Link focuses on North Minneapolis young people experiencing homelessness.

"This means so much," said The Link CEO Beth Holger. "To continue Jim's and Oscar's legacy and continue supporting Twin Cities youth experiencing homelessness, trafficking, involved in the juvenile justice system, it's so wonderful, and the Vikings do so much for us."

Winter Wonderland guests enjoyed visits with Santa Claus, gifts from UNRL, festive treats from the Vikings Table food truck, a holiday meal and a Build-A-Bear station. They received handwarmers provided by 3M that were also given to the first 40,000 guests at today's game.

3M's Ally Fernholz emphasized the longstanding partnership with the Vikings and shared mission for impacting those in need.

"Supporting families and these types of community members is very important to 3M, and we're excited to help everybody here stay warm this winter," Fernholz said.

Karli, who previously benefited from The Link's support and now is employed by the nonprofit, is immensely grateful for partners like 3M and the Vikings who make a difference. And she doesn't take for granted that Rouse and his teammates so willingly spent a late-season evening with community members.

Whether first-year players like Rouse, Levi Drake Rodriguez or Zavier Scott, or an NFL veteran and father of four like Andrew DePaola, all genuinely enjoyed the opportunity.

"I just hang with them like they're my family. I hope they felt that tonight," Rodriguez said. "Just hanging out, breaking bread with them, hearing some of their stories, chatting it up, it's great."

Added DePaola: "Anytime you get a chance to spend time with people who may not have the same opportunities and access to resources that others have … to be able to talk to them about what they're going through is truly humbling. It's been really fun just to connect with them."