This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES – Since becoming a Dodger before the 2020 season, superstar Mookie Betts has made Los Angeles his home. This is where he’ll finish his playing career.
Because of that, Betts has fully bought into the importance he has in the L.A. community. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Betts hosted his third annual Grab and Go drive-thru event at Algin Sutton Recreation Center in South Los Angeles last week.
Betts and his wife, Brianna, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Brotherhood Crusade and Betts’ 50/50 Foundation, distributed food, baskets, holiday toys and gift cards to over 750 families during the event.
“This community was here to support me during that tough time in the [2023 postseason], so I think the most important thing is positive vibes,” Betts said at the event. “I think positive vibes go a long way, and we’re here doing that.”
Betts’ event has quickly become one of the Dodgers’ best Thanksgiving initiatives. Hundreds of people lined up to receive the goods while Betts and his family and friends joined them with laughter, dancing and – as Betts said – positive vibes.
“Thank you guys for standing in line. It means the world to me,” Betts said. “Any time I can come here and support you guys in whatever form, shape, or fashion, I’ll be here.”
The 50/50 Foundation’s Thanksgiving Grab and Go event wasn’t the only one Dodgers players participated in leading up to the holiday. The Dodgers hosted their annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway at Dodger Stadium last week, distributing about 2,000 meals to local families.
The Dodgers worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District to identify households most in need, specifically those experiencing homelessness or extreme hardship. The meals consisted of one turkey and sides, which included cranberry sauce, boxed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and pies.
Dodgers pitchers Anthony Banda, Landon Knack and Tony Gonsolin participated in the event, helping distribute the boxes of goods.
“I think it’s amazing what we’re doing in giving back to the community. It fills my heart, really,” Banda said. “I was at one point there, where we needed help with the holidays. To be able to do this really warms my heart. It’s home for me, for real.”