So Cal Sports Teams Celebrate Thanksgiving with Local Communities

Let the Holidays begin.

Thanksgiving is a mere hours way and many of your Southern California Sports Teams are getting in on the holiday spirit this year with various events to give back to the community.

The Lakers, Dodgers, Rams, Clippers and Kings all got in on the season of giving this year by either hosting a Thanksgiving feast, or passing out Turkeys to those in the community in need.

Many of your favorite stars participated in this year's festivities as they made sure that families in the local community are aware how much athletes recognize their support and spirit throughout the season.

Here's a look at what each team did for Thanksgiving this year:

Lakers:

Rookie Brandon Ingram and Thomas Robinson joined the Laker girls to serve up a Thanksgiving feast to 500 people in need at the L.A. Fire Department's Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Elysian Park.

"When you have the opportunity to give back and you make the amount that you make, you always look back and see where you were as a kid and just try to help out," Ingram told Serena Winters of Lakers Nation. "Always in my hometown, we had a few professional athletes and they always gave back to my community, so it was always fun to see that and gave me inspiration to just try to do the same thing to give back."

The Lakers teamed up with Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que for the annual event entitle the "Season of Giving." In addition to the feast, attendees were part of a turkey giveaway and tickets to the Lakers holiday party for kids which includes a Winter Wonderland theme, complete with a sledding park.

Brandon Ingram talks about professional athletes in his community growing up, inspiring him to give back https://t.co/rUje8T3z6W pic.twitter.com/2wgl9lz89N — Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) November 24, 2016

Dodgers:

The Los Angeles Dodgers in conjunction with their charitable foundation (LADF) will also join forces with Ralphs and Food 4 Less as they hosted their 12^th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway on Tuesday.

Dodger Alumni, Ron Cey and Eric Karros joined Dodger broadcaster Charley Steiner to distribute complimentary turkeys and fixings to over 1,200 pre-selected families at Dodger stadium.

In addition to the turkeys, families will also receive complimentary Dodger Dogs. 

Charley.
Ron.
Eric.

Probably talking about how heavy those turkeys are. �� pic.twitter.com/PaCCtP1jLs — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 22, 2016

Rams:

Los Angeles Rams players Dominique Easley (2 sacks against Dolphins) and Cam Thomas will join Inglewood Mayor James Butts to serve a traditional Thanksgiving brunch to families of the HomeLight Living Residents and Alumni organization. 

The rams players are excited to help their new community come together and give back to help families who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, and homelessness. Hopefully they can make a difference and bring joy, hope and cheer to those in need this holiday season.

Clippers: 

The Los Angeles Clippers participated in the 28^th annual "Teamwork at the Table Event," at the St. Joseph Center in Venice, CA.

The annual event features both players and coaches on the Clippers passing out food, clothing, books and other items to families in need.

This year, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Wesley Johnson, Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass and rookie Diamond Stone all participated.

“It’s really cool just to see these families,” Griffin told Clippers insider, Rowan Kavner. “This meal and these donations mean so much to them, so for us to come out and just be a part of it, it means a lot to us.”

“It’s literally the opposite of greed and want,” continued Griffin. “It’s about spreading the love and being thankful for what you have.”

Ralphs and Food 4 Less teamed up with the Clippers to donate food and Turkeys for the event.

“That’s what it’s all about, taking care of the community and helping as much as possible,” said Crawford, who understands what many of the families in attendance are going through needing some extra help. “I remember, not necessarily being in line for this, but having to do certain things, being on food stamps, things of that nature. I get it, I really do, and my heart goes out to them. That’s why coming to something like this, there’s a certain pride and a certain joy you get.”

Speights, one of the new additions tot he team this season concurred. 

“It touches my heart,” Speights said. “It’s a great time to be here and see these people be here and have the courage to come out here and come get this kind of stuff. A lot of people won’t come because of egos, but these people have no egos. They come here and get the things they need, so it’s good to be here and good to support it.”

Kings: 

The Los Angeles Kings hosted a three-day food drive with all donations and proceeds going towards the Abundance for All and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Organizations.

Collection sites have been posted throughout Staples Center during the last three Kings home games with the final day occurring on Wednesday against the New York Islanders.

Each donor received raffle tickets based on the number of food items they donated, and after the Thanksgiving holiday, the Kings will select raffle tickets and award the winners items signed by Kings players as a prize for their generosity.

Donate non-perishable food items to @LAKingsCare on your way into STAPLES Center tonight for your chance to win an #LAKings signed hat! pic.twitter.com/bdVUFiFGds — #LAKings (@LAKings) November 23, 2016