The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and several players, including Mookie Betts, Tony Gonsolin and Justin Turner, among others, were active in the community over the past week to help give back to those in need for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Betts, his fiancé Brianna Hammonds, mother and other family members accompanied the LADF at Algin Sutton Recreation Center to distribute 1,000 turkeys along with fixings and dessert, plus hygiene supplies and personal protective equipment from UCLA Health.
Two days later the LADF was supported by Phil Bickford, Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Turner, Kourtney Turner, Fernando Valenzuela and Alex Vesia to pass out turkeys and sides at Dodger Stadium.
Along with taking pride in helping the Dodgers organization give back to the community, Bickford, Gonsolin and Vesia each said they were looking forward to consuming Thanksgiving food themselves.
“I just love eating,” Gonsolin said. “Down to eat anything. Don’t eat turkey that much throughout the year, so it’s the one time you kind of get to eat turkey.”
Vesia added: “Mom goes all out for Thanksgiving. She makes really good for the family.”
Dodgers pick favorite Thanksgiving dish
During this week’s Dodgers Holiday Zoom party, the likes of Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, Edwin Rios, Will Smith, Justin Turner, Trea Turner and Vesia gave their picks for favorite Thanksgiving dish.
#Dodgers picked favorite Thanksgiving dish
Trea Turner: wife's stuffing
Alex Vesia: dad's smoked turkey
Will Smith: sweet potato casserole
Justin Turner: deviled eggs
Edwin Rios: mom's macaroni salad
Max Muncy: stuffing
Gavin Lux: aunt's pumpkin pie
AJ Pollock: stuffing
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) November 23, 2021
Stuffing was a popular choice, though for Justin Turner, the holiday is problematic because of being dairy free.
“I would say it used to be a pumpkin pie,” Turner told DodgerBlue.com. “The dessert was always my favorite, but I don’t know now. The ham is always safe, I guess.”
Although some may relax their diet for Thanksgiving, Turner can’t take such liberty.
“It’s not about a cheat meal, it’s about staying away from the dairy. Unless the turkey is cooked in dairy free butter, I’m in trouble,” he explained. “It wouldn’t be a fun night. It’s not about cheat meal, I just wouldn’t feel good.”
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