DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons are doing exciting things on the court amid an 11-game winning streak, but just as important to the franchise is what they’re doing away from basketball.
The Pistons began the NBA’s Season of Giving on Thursday as they held their annual Give Back Event at the Pistons Performance Center in Midtown Detroit where they distributed 400 food and essentials packages to metro Detroit families.
Members of the Detroit Pistons and G League Motor City Cruise rosters, coaching staffs and front office were on hand to help pass out items like shelf stable food, hygiene essentials, frozen turkeys, gallons of milk and official Pistons basketballs.
“It just shows the nature of this organization and the priorities of this organization is to be a part of this community, give back to the community and intertwine ourselves as much as we possibly can with the people of Detroit," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Thursday night. “Just do what we can to help, especially this time of year, it’s a great opportunity for us to help others, celebrate different things, make sure they have what they need.”
Before the event was held Thursday night to pass out packages to pre-selected families, the organization provided an additional 800 packages to Matrix Human Services, Detroit Public School Community District Health Hubs and Lighthouse Outreach Center.
The Pistons worked with community stakeholders and the Department of Neighborhoods to identify families they could bring to the performance center for a unique experience where they not only received helpful items, but got to interact with Pistons players like Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey.
“To have this be our staple event is very impactful,“ Chris Economeas, the Pistons’ senior director of community & social responsibility, said. “When we moved down to Detroit, that was one thing that we wanted to make sure of, is to have our footprint here in the city and make sure that we’re a community hub. That’s the reason why we have this building. It’s the reason why we open it up for events like this.”
Pistons players were stationed all around the area that’s typically used as their practice courts in the facility, now lined with items to be distributed to the families, who walked through the room with a wagon.
Families stopped to take pictures with players, Pistons cheerleaders and the mascots for the Pistons and the Cruise.
“This is very meaningful,” Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart said. “Being able to give back to the community and city it’s just such a great thing to do and to be able to help families out that could use it this holiday (season). It’s a great feeling. It’s a great blessing to be able to do this.”
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