Vikings players past and present are doing their part to combat food insecurity during uncertain times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented shutdown of not only the sports world but also of schools around the country, meaning many children can no longer rely on meals provided for them during the school day.
Thielen Foundation donates $25K to Second Harvest Heartland
With this in mind, Adam Thielen and his wife, Caitlin, through the Thielen Foundation have donated $25,000 to Second Harvest Heartland to help ensure that young people in local communities have the nutrition they need.
To learn more about Second Harvest Heartland's COVID-19 plan or to make a donation directly to the nonprofit, click here.
Greenways kick off Hunger Relief Campaign
Former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway and his wife, Jenni, also are joining the efforts to support Minnesota youth by partnering with another local nonprofit, The Sheridan Story%20and%20are%20working%20to%20prepare%20the%20food%20to%20go%20out%20as%20soon%20as%20possible%20to%20our%2031%20district%20partners%20and%20other%20community%20partners.%20%20The%20schools%20will%20likely%20be%20closed%20for%20at%20least%206-8%20weeks,%20and%20we%20will%20be%20working%20long%20after%20that%20to%20help%20stabilize%20families.%20The%20initial%20bags%20mentioned%20above,%20though,%20are%20intended%20for%20the%20immediate%20need%20in%20the%20next%20few%20weeks.).
Greenway's Lead the Way Foundation recently kicked off a Hunger Relief Campaign with an initial $10,000 donation from Chad and Jenni.
The Sheridan Story is partnering with more than 30 districts in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin to provide food at designated distribution points. These districts include more than 87,000 students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The Sheridan Story is working to deliver 34,000 food bags containing 130,000-plus meals to the distribution points and has purchased food for an additional 80,000 food bags (approximately seven full semi-trucks).
According to the Lead the Way website, a $25 donation can help provide meals for 100 children.
Barr provides emergency grants
While Thielen and Greenway partner with local nonprofits to support food distribution, Anthony Barr is also providing extra support during the pandemic.
Through his Raise The Barr foundation (which focuses on helping single parents complete their postsecondary education), the Vikings linebacker is offering $500 emergency grants to any current or former Raise The Barr scholarship recipients. Within the first 24 hours, 30 scholarship recipients had applied, and that number of recipients is up to 34, for a commitment of $17,000.
Per Barr's Instagram post, all applications for the emergency grant will be approved.
