Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders

As Thanksgiving approached, the Las Vegas Raiders turned their focus from the gridiron to the local community, hosting their annual Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway—an event that has become a beloved tradition for both the team and Las Vegas residents in need. This year’s giveaway, held at Allegiant Stadium’s outdoor plaza, aimed to provide families facing financial hardship with everything needed for a full Thanksgiving meal, from turkeys and stuffing to canned vegetables and pies. More than just a charity drive, the event was a chance for players, coaches, and staff to connect with fans on a personal level, sharing laughter, hugs, and words of gratitude ahead of the holiday. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders explores how this event brought the community together, highlighted the Raiders’ commitment to giving back, and created lasting memories for everyone involved.

The Raiders’ Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway wasn’t just a one-day event—it required weeks of planning and collaboration with local organizations to ensure it reached those who needed it most. The team partnered with Three Square Food Bank, a leading Las Vegas hunger-relief nonprofit, to source and assemble 1,500 meal baskets. Each basket was carefully packed to feed a family of four, with fresh turkeys (donated by a local grocery chain), boxes of stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potatoes, and a homemade pie. The Raiders’ community relations team also worked with local schools, churches, and social service agencies to identify families eligible for the baskets, prioritizing those with children, elderly members, or recent financial hardships. “We want to make sure these baskets go to families who might not otherwise have a Thanksgiving meal,” said Jessica Mendoza, the Raiders’ director of community relations. “Partnering with Three Square helps us reach those communities efficiently and ensure we’re making a real impact.” In the days leading up to the event, Raiders players and staff volunteered their time to pack the baskets, turning a warehouse into a assembly line of holiday cheer. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders emphasizes that the event’s success was rooted in careful planning and community partnerships, ensuring it didn’t just look good—but did good.

On the day of the giveaway, Allegiant Stadium’s plaza was transformed into a festive hub, with Raiders-themed balloons, holiday music, and tables lined with stacked meal baskets. Dozens of Raiders players—including fan favorites like running back Josh Jacobs, linebacker Denzel Perryman, and tight end Foster Moreau—showed up to greet families and hand out baskets. Jacobs, who grew up in a low-income household in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the event held personal meaning for him. “I remember Thanksgivings where my family struggled to put food on the table,” he said, as he handed a basket to a single mother of two. “Being able to give back like this? It’s why I do what I do. No kid should go without a Thanksgiving meal.” Perryman, a Las Vegas native, spent hours posing for photos, signing autographs, and chatting with families about their holiday plans. One memorable moment came when 7-year-old Mia Lopez told Perryman she wanted to be a football player when she grew up—he responded by giving her a Raiders mini helmet and telling her, “Dream big, and never let anyone stop you.” These personal interactions turned the giveaway into more than just a meal drop-off; it became a chance for families to feel seen and valued by the team they cheered for. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders highlights that the players’ genuine engagement was the heart of the event, turning a charitable act into a heartfelt connection.

The Las Vegas Raiders also made sure the event was inclusive, welcoming families from all corners of the Las Vegas Valley—including those from underserved neighborhoods like North Las Vegas, East Las Vegas, and Henderson. Maria Gonzalez, a single mother of three from North Las Vegas, teared up as she received her basket from Moreau. “I lost my job earlier this year, and I wasn’t sure how I’d feed my kids for Thanksgiving,” she said. “This means everything to us—thank you, Raiders, for not forgetting about families like mine.” The Las Vegas Raiders went the extra mile to make the day special, providing free face painting for kids, a photo booth with a life-sized Raider Rusher mascot, and hot cocoa to keep everyone warm on the cool November morning. Local radio station KRLV 920 AM broadcasted live from the event, interviewing players and families and sharing the stories of gratitude over the airwaves. By the end of the day, all 1,500 baskets had been distributed, and the plaza was filled with smiles and hugs. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders shows that the Las Vegas Raiders’ focus on inclusivity ensured the event touched every part of the community, making it a true celebration of Thanksgiving’s spirit of giving.

In addition to handing out baskets, the Las Vegas Raiders used the event to launch a “Thanksgiving Challenge” encouraging fans to give back to their own communities. The challenge invited fans to share photos of their own charitable acts—whether volunteering at a food bank, delivering meals to the elderly, or donating groceries—on social media using the hashtag #RaidersThanksgiving. The team promised to match every fan donation to Three Square Food Bank up to \(50,000, doubling the impact of fans’ generosity. “We can’t do this alone—we need the Raider Nation to join us in fighting hunger,” Mendoza said during a speech at the event. The challenge quickly gained traction, with fans sharing hundreds of photos and donations pouring in. By the end of Thanksgiving week, the Raiders had raised over \)75,000 for Three Square, enough to provide more than 225,000 meals for Las Vegas families. The Las Vegas Raiders’ decision to turn the giveaway into a community-wide challenge showed their commitment to long-term change, not just a one-day fix. It also strengthened the bond between the team and its fans, turning them into partners in giving back. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders underscores that the Las Vegas Raiders’ challenge turned a single event into a movement, inspiring the entire community to embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving.

As the event wrapped up, the Las Vegas Raiders reflected on why the Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway was so important to the team’s identity. For head coach Josh McDaniels, who attended the giveaway with his family, the event was a reminder of what it means to be part of the Las Vegas community. “Football is about more than wins and losses—it’s about being a good neighbor,” he said. “This event lets us show our fans that we care about them, not just on Sundays, but every day of the year.” The Las Vegas Raiders have pledged to expand the giveaway next year, aiming to distribute 2,000 baskets and partner with more local organizations to reach even more families. For the players, the event left a lasting impression too. Jacobs summed it up best as he packed up to leave: “Today wasn’t about us—it was about them. Seeing those kids smile when they get their baskets? That’s the best win I’ll get all season.” The Raiders’ Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway didn’t just provide meals—it provided hope, connection, and a reminder that everyone deserves to celebrate Thanksgiving with joy. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway Celebrated by the Las Vegas Raiders concludes that the Las Vegas Raiders’ commitment to this event is a testament to their role as more than a football team—they’re a vital part of the Las Vegas community, dedicated to lifting up those in need and spreading gratitude during the holiday season.