MINNEAPOLIS — J.J. McCarthy successfully made his first handoffs — and provided his first highlight — of 2025.

The Vikings second-year quarterback and his fiancée Katya joined the Vikings Table food truck powered by Xcel Energy at YouthLink's Drop-In Center to distribute meals to teens and young adults.

The meals distributed included some that were packaged for later use, including one in a gold bag to commemorate the 100,000^th meal delivered since Vikings Table's mission launched in summer 2019. Those meals were delivered to YouthLink in a new refrigerated van that will enable new flexibility for continuing to reach people who can benefit from a good meal.

McCarthy then lined up alongside Xcel Energy Senior Vice President/Chief Communications Officer Rob Clark to hand off Southwest-themed bowls featuring a choice of chicken, spicy chicken, beef or vegetarian options from the Vikings Table food truck.

"The handoffs were great," McCarthy said. "I believe the recipients of the handoffs were even better."

Clark said the event was a wonderful way to continue the partnership between Xcel Energy and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation.

"[The 100,000^th meal] is a great milestone. It's a very visible sign of the great partnership we have," Clark said. "Unfortunately, what it means is we've got food insecurity issues in our community. We're going to continue to be focused on that. We've re-upped our partnership to do this.

"We want to make sure we continue to serve those in the community that need it," Clark added. "We would love to see food insecurity go away entirely, but until then, we're going to continue to do what we can to make sure people have access to food they need."

Less than a year after Minnesota selected McCarthy with the 10^th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, he's expanded his efforts to make a difference in this community, even when days are chilled by stiff winds like Tuesday afternoon.

"It's really special, being a Midwest kid and being able to relate to the four seasons and things not being sunny every single day," McCarthy said. "It's really awesome to be able to build those relationships and that connection to the city, a real heartbeat of the city. It's awesome every opportunity I get, and I relish every moment."

YouthLink serves young people aged 16 to 24 who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities.

Darian Rosenthal, a YouthLink client, enjoyed meeting McCarthy. He exuded enthusiasm at the opportunity to talk football with the QB.

"It's been an honor, a blessing," Rosenthal said. "He's going to do good this year. I have faith in him. I was just giving him congratulations on his season."

Rosenthal said YouthLink "helps me achieve things I couldn't do on my own."

"It helps with housing and a stable environment to live through and build from," he added.

And on Tuesday, it provided him with a memory and a memento. McCarthy removed his No. 9 jersey, autographed it and presented it to Rosenthal, adding to the ways he connected with YouthLink clients and staff.

YouthLink Drop-In Center Youth Services Director Ko Quaye has been with the organization for more than two years. He said the optional space serves more than 120 teens and young adults daily at its 41 North 12^th Street location in Minneapolis.

"Last year about 20,000 came through our doors," Quaye said. "It's amazing we can do that work at that capacity, but it's also alarming that we see that many young people in a calendar year. Partnerships like the Minnesota Vikings Foundation make it doable for us."

Quaye took great joy in seeing the interaction between McCarthy and Rosenthal.

"People come here because they want to and because they feel seen and heard and cared about," Quaye said. "That's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and for it to happen here in the parking lot, it's huge for him and a person like me who sees the ins and outs of these young people. To see a highlight like that happen here is phenomenal."