Joe Maddon's Annual Thanksmas

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon first introduced the now annual "Thanksmas" program during the winter of 2006. Every year since, Maddon has used Thanksmas, a large-scale spaghetti feast for the needy, to raise awareness to the homeless situation in the Tampa Bay region. In preparation of this week's upcoming Thanksmas celebrations, Maddon spent Saturday shopping for the multiple feasts and began cooking on Sunday at Tropicana Field.

Mark Topkin, St. Petersburg Times:

Rays manager Joe Maddon spent Saturday shopping for items to prepare his annual Thanksmas holiday meal for the needy. Maddon and Rays staff will start cooking Sunday, then serve on Monday at the Sallie House in St. Petersburg, then at Salvation Army centers on Tuesday in Bradenton (noon) and St. Petersburg (4:30 p.m.) and on Wednesday in Tampa (5 p.m.).

Maddon even tweeted about his cooking exploits Sunday, posting an action photo (above) and letting fans know about his favorite part of cooking: stirring the sauce.

Cooking for Thanksmas all day at the Trop. My favorite part? Stirring the sauce. yfrog.com/nte1zbhkj

— Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon) December 11, 2011

To find out more details about Maddon's charitable efforts, visit the official site for Thanksmas.