The Vikings this month have been active with Twin Cities neighbors around the Thanksgiving holiday.

From Andrew Van Ginkel, Brandon Powell and the Vikings Home Team connecting with families at local Boys & Girls Clubs, to Dalton Risner hosting a Thanksgiving meal at The Salvation Army, Harrison Phillips spending time with U.S. Military veterans, Camryn Bynum partnering with Open Cupboard's food bank program and the Vikings annual Thanksgiving drive-through food distribution, players and coaches have demonstrated care and commitment to the community.

Vikings Team Up with Land O'Lakes for Thanksgiving drive-through distribution

Vikings safety Joshua Metellus is teaching his 3-year-old son about a lot more than football.

The younger Metellus, Joshua Syx, joined his dad at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center Tuesday, where the Vikings and Land O'Lakes teamed up to provide 1,500 Thanksgiving meals for the surrounding community.

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., various nonprofits and local first responders came by the Thanksgiving Drive-Through, where Vikings players and coaches, cheerleaders, executives and staff members and Land O'Lakes staff volunteers, offered warm greetings and loaded vehicles with turkeys and bags of additional groceries and fixings from Hy-Vee.

"I want to let my son know from a young age that we're here to give back to the community," Metellus said. "To give back [in similar situations] that I experienced growing up. I want to show him how much good you can do in the world. And he loves to help!"

Metellus was joined by teammates Ty Chandler, C.J. Ham, Trishton Jackson, Brian Asamoah II and Nahshon Wright. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and multiple assistants also lent their hands.

Wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell provided an extra burst of energy and seemed unbothered by the 25-degree temps and gusts of wind.

"This is something we love to do. It's great to help families around Thanksgiving," McCardell said with a smile. "It brings the team even closer. [Fans might not] realize that, but things we do like this in the community, it helps build even more camaraderie with the fellas.

"I'm a big holiday guy. I love to cook myself," McCardell added. "I want people to be able to eat well, have fun, have fellowship with their families and friends. … I just want to be able to help people."

Vikings Chief Operating Officer Andrew Miller echoed McCardell's thoughts, particularly as a father of young children who is thankful for family time around Thanksgiving. Miller helped load vehicles and thanked representatives from the nonprofits for distributing the food items donated by Land O'Lakes and Hy-Vee.

Chris Johnson, Land O'Lakes Director of Sports Partnerships, noted the organizations' shared passion for making an impact and helping ease food insecurity.

"Land O'Lakes is farmer-owned, and our farmers have the opportunity to put food on the table of many every year. This is another great opportunity for our employees, for [Vikings] players and coaches, to partner and together put food on the table for [those in need]," Johnson said. "The energy here is great. … As people drive up, the smiles on their faces is just fantastic."

Dalton & Whitney Risner serve St. Paul community at The Salvation Army

Dalton Risner didn't let his lack of long hair hold him back Tuesday.

The Vikings guard joined a group of middle-school girls in The Salvation Army gymnasium as they danced to Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair." When the group of young ladies flipped their ponytails and braids over their heads and swung them around, belting the lyrics ("I whip my hair back and forth"), Risner pulled off his Vikings baseball cap and mimicked the motion with his own head – to the shrieking delight and laughter of the youth.

"It's such great vibes," Dalton later said, laughing himself. "The big reason why Whitney and I wanted to team up with the Vikings and The Salvation Army is to put food in these families' bellies and to see smiles on these people's faces. … For them to come here and have laughs and smiles and great food to eat and games to play, and if you can throw a Minnesota Vikings football player on top of that, and they to meet him and think that's cool, I'm happy to be a part of it."

Dalton and his wife Whitney personally donated the funds to host a full Thanksgiving dinner catered by Hy-Vee, as well as to hire a D.J. to spin fun tunes that echoed throughout the gym. Saint Paul community members of all ages, many of them wearing Vikings jerseys or sweatshirts, filled their plates with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, salad, rolls and – of course – pumpkin and apple pie.

"So many of these families are single mothers, single fathers, families who are together but may be struggling, and they need this meal," Dalton said. "We're so grateful we can give it to them."

Just over 24 hours after helping Minnesota pull off an overtime win in Chicago, Dalton signed autographs and tossed footballs with young fans. Whitney visited nearby with an older woman, who thanked the Risners for giving back.

"It's so wonderful getting everybody together for dinner, the kids playing games," Whitney said. "Minnesota is such a cool spot, and being able to give back to the Twin Cities has been really, really great – and especially around the holidays."

She and Dalton share a Christian faith that plays a significant role in their desire to give back.

"I love the game of football, and I hope people remember me as a great guard and all that stuff, but more importantly, I hope they remember me for the heart I have for other people, because that's what really matters," Dalton said. "I've been a big believer in this my whole career: you can write checks, you can show up for a photo op for 30 minutes … but it's the boots on the ground that I think is the biggest thing.

"And Jesus makes this all possible," he later added. "Without Jesus, I don't think Whitney and I have this platform to make an impact. He's the one who motivates me. Jesus gave His life for me, He gave His life for everyone, and everything starts and ends with that for me. With football, with community, with my day, how can I live like Jesus did?"

Lt. Colonel Randall Polsley, The Salvation Army Northern Division Commander, joined in the evening's festivities and spent time talking with Dalton, Whitney and several of the families.

Polsley summed up the event with one word: joy.

"Dalton comes across as somebody who truly cares about the community – the men, women, boys and girls in his room," Polsley said, "and there's just a lot of joy in the room tonight."

He expressed gratitude for The Salvation Army's nearly 40-year partnership with the Vikings and the organizations' shared desire to make positive impacts.

"Events like this with the Vikings mean a lot to our families," Polsley said. "Being here and having someone like Dalton who you might hear about, who you might see on the T.V. during a game, come here and spend time with them? That really brings up confidence, brings up self-worth. That's so important."

Phillips gives back to military veterans

Harrison Phillips visited the Minneapolis V.A. Hospital for Veterans Day and returned just two weeks later to reconnect with residents and patients.

Phillips teamed up with some of his Harrison's Playmakers, young men and women with cognitive differences, to help host a Thanksgiving meal distribution event in the hospital's auditorium. Hormel donated more than 200 frozen turkeys that residents were able to pick up, and they also received side dishes and a variety of non-perishable items.

"I love getting to show people that my disability rocks. It's actually really cool," smiled Playmaker Natasha, whose sister served in the Army. "And I love that we get to do little events throughout the year, like giving turkeys to veterans today. I never even knew you could do that!

"I couldn't really pick a favorite part of today," added Natasha, who noted her paternal grandfather also served in the military. "Pretty much everything made me smile."

Vikings kicker Parker Romo and defensive lineman Travis Bell, who recently signed with Minnesota's practice squad, joined Phillips and the Playmakers in handing out holiday meal items and thanking the veterans for their service.

"This means a lot to me. Both my grandfather served in the military, and I've just grown a great, a great appreciation the more I've been involved, especially since I got to the NFL, doing visits at veterans hospitals or listening to our veterans and hearing their stories," Phillips said. "It just gives me so much gratitude that I can play a childhood game for a living, and these people, their friends, risked their lives or lost their lives for this freedom so I could go out there and play on Sundays.

"I think we've done a pretty good job as a country, but I also have heard from some of our veterans that we failed our vets in many ways," Phillips later added. "To have an active NFL player who has [a platform] shed some back light on who our true heroes are, I think it does mean a lot. So those interactions are always very positive."

Following the event, Phillips met with his Playmakers volunteers to reiterate the importance of recognizing and honoring those who have served our country.

Elizabeth, 22, has been part of Harrison's Playmakers since the Vikings signed Phillips as a free agent in 2022.

"Harrison is my bestest bud," said Elizabeth. "And it was really fun saying hi to the veterans. It was pretty special."