Eagles star lifts spirits of those in need around Thanksgiving holiday

Food and football, the staples of Thanksgiving, were not the lone things a peculiar radical of kids took distant from a sojourn from Philadelphia Eagles prima Jordan Davis. They walked distant with thing overmuch much – a consciousness of belonging and being valued.

The children ran astir the gym astatine the Salvation Army Kroc Center successful Camden, New Jersey, arsenic Davis’ dependable echoed disconnected the walls.

"White 80, acceptable hut!" helium was heard yelling.

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Philadelphia Eagles antiaircraft tackle Jordan Davis (90) reacts aft a Detroit Lions turnover connected downs during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, connected Nov. 16, 2025. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)

The kids ran astir trying to drawback Davis’ chaotic spirals aft decorating festive crafts and stuffing their faces with turkey. While Davis showed them the method aspects of the game, a deeper meaning was astatine play.

From the Linc to the gym, Davis ensured his assemblage had thing to beryllium grateful for. He helped manus retired the archetypal 60 turkeys of 1,400 that the halfway is providing. He besides stayed for a Thanksgiving repast and taught kids the crippled helium loves. 

"Football and beingness person a batch of lessons that co-exist successful each other," Davis said. "If it weren’t for sports, I would cognize thing astir leadership."

Davis was adamant that the lessons helium learned done shot made him the antheral helium is today. Understanding aboriginal connected that his relation is bigger than himself. The lessons helium learned successful life, helium applied to the field, and that tangible connection, helium says, is what drives him to springiness back. 

To some, that meant a lot. 

"No substance your societal status, you tin assistance anyone astatine immoderate time, adjacent though you’re inactive successful a pugnacious spot oregon going done a lot," said 12-year-old Hector Rosario, who often attends events the Salvation Army hosts. 

Veronica Ramirez, lasting beside her son, smiled.

She said she feels that erstwhile radical of Davis’ presumption travel backmost to beryllium a subordinate successful the community, they’re engagement it shows their humbleness. 

"Coming present astir the holidays is specified a blessing," she said. 

Ramirez added that giving does not travel from 1 idiosyncratic alone. 

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Jordan Davis (90) of the Philadelphia Eagles looks connected against the Denver Broncos astatine Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, connected Oct. 5, 2025. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

"With volunteering, it takes much than one," she said. "Everyone is close-knit, from the volunteers each the mode up to the majors."

Davis emphasized that idea, saying it reflects however shot works. 

"The Salvation Army and the squad I play for, we each person goals we privation to achieve," helium continued. "But it takes everybody. It takes each idiosyncratic putting successful clip and effort to get wherever we privation to go."

At a clip erstwhile nutrient insecurity is high, it takes a colony to springiness radical the enactment they need. 

Cited successful Feeding America’s 2023 report, much than 210,000 Philadelphians, oregon 13.6% of those surviving successful the city, grapple with nutrient insecurity. 

Furthermore, the study showed that communities of colour are much astatine risk, arsenic 22% of Black and 23% of Hispanic families deficiency entree to nutrient that’s nutritious. 

In Camden County, New Jersey, alone, the wide nutrient insecurity complaint deed 12.7% successful 2023, impacting 66,570 residents. 

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania allocated implicit $40 cardinal for nutrient banks, farmers’ marketplace coupons and different assistance for what officials are calling a "growing hunger crisis."

However, she went connected to database the programs of which her lad and others nationwide benefit. 

Davis agreed, saying those nonstop programs provided for the younker assistance with their improvement and are "near and beloved to him."

"I consciousness similar there's not a batch of radical utilizing their voice, truthful I thought I'd beryllium a idiosyncratic to basal up and marque definite it's heard."

As a child, Davis and his household erstwhile received donations from the Salvation Army erstwhile they were facing pugnacious times. Now that he’s pushing past the extremity line, providing the aforesaid assistance and affirmative reassurance to young kids, it's a full-circle infinitesimal for him. 

"It’s an accidental to usage the skills that I learned implicit the years, acquisition successful the community, and assemblage work I received arsenic a kid, combined into me, and this is the cleanable accidental to bash it [volunteer] astir the vacation season," helium said.

For Rosario, that full-circle transportation is what makes this spot consciousness similar home, a abstraction wherever simultaneously his favourite puerility memories are being built, and anxiousness melts away. Kids consciousness supported by radical similar Davis and the volunteers astir him.

"It's a mode to instrumentality each your insecurities distant and a spot for maine to person amusive and hide astir what’s happening outside."

When asked what lessons Rosario learned, helium explained whenever there's contention astatine stake, helium gets upset if helium doesn't win, but that doesn't matter. 

"It’s not what you win, it's what you bash for the Lord."

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That elemental sentiment has helped him travel a agelong way, teaching him that adjacent successful loss, determination is intent and meaning to each loss.

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