CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Some Chicago Bears players stepped off the field and into the kitchen on the city's Southwest Side Tuesday to help feed hundreds of migrants.
The migrants were welcomed at a Little Village Salvation Army site near West 24th Street and South Millard Avenue for a pre-Thanksgiving meal. Jessica Martinez, with the Salvation Army, said just because migrants are getting a lot of attention, it doesn't mean other Chicagoans are not being helped.
"We help everyone in need. We are not saying, 'No, we are not going to help you because you are a migrant' or 'We are not going to help you because you're from Chicago.' We help everybody who comes through our doors."
Nivia Paredes, also with the Salvation Army, said the Thanksgiving meal was traditional Venezuelan food, including fried plantains, rice, black beans and avocado.
Of course, serving up some of that delicious food were some of the largest kitchen workers the organization could find: about a half-dozen Bears football players, including star receiver D.J. Moore.
"The NFL — I won't say it's just a game — but it provides a great life for some of us in the league and then, having that platform, you can come back and give back," he said. "It's amazing."
Fellow receiver Velus Jones Jr. said it was a "great feeling" to show up and help out on Tuesday.
"To see these kids, I see myself," he said.
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