RICHMOND, CA — Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris returned this week to the Bay Area nonprofit where he once lived to give back to the community.
Harris donated 50 turkeys to the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program, a nonprofit, multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic coalition of congregations, the organization said in a post on Monday.
The NFL star's donation comes just ahead of GRIP's annual Thanksgiving dinner, where the dining hall will be filled with "warmth and enough food to quiet even the loudest stomach," the nonprofit said in the post.
As a kid, Harris, a Bay Area native, lived with his family at the shelter operated by GRIP. Now 27, Harris has had a storied football career. He played for the renowned Alabama Crimson Tide before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2021 draft. He is currently in his fifth NFL season.
"Najee’s connection to GRIP runs deep," GRIP Executive Director Ralph Payton told Patch. "Having someone who once stayed in our shelter come back, not just as a public figure but as a neighbor who remembers this place, means a lot to our residents and staff."
Payton says Harris' story shows community members that "homelessness is a chapter, not a life sentence."
People can rebuild their lives when supported and given the right opportunities and talents, Payton said.
"When Najee returns to serve, our families see someone who has walked in their shoes and is now choosing to stand beside them," Payton said. "It brings hope, pride, and a powerful reminder that the people in our shelter today are also future graduates, leaders, and givers."