Preds, Metro Nashville Police Partner for Annual Thanksgiving Deliveries

A festive tradition continued just 48 hours before the big day in Nashville as the Predators teamed up with the Metro Nashville Police Department to distribute Thanksgiving dinners to 150 families in need.
Turkeys donated by the Preds food service partner, DNC Sports Service, and accompanying food baskets with all the fixings, provided by Predators players and staff, were passed along in Nashville neighborhoods on Tuesday afternoon as Metro officers went door to door to apartments and homes handpicked by the department as those who were most deserving of the meal.

"It's good to see faces on a positive note, just talk person to person and hopefully put a smile on their face," Metro Nashville Police Officer Jason Kedzierski said. "We're creating the community relations, because we're going out there delivering the food and providing a service, but in a more positive way rather than most of the time that we answer, it's going to be something negative. But today it's about meeting people, and it's going to be a positive [interaction]."
"When we get out in the community, it's what drives us, it's what revives us, gives us energy and we love it," Preds Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said. "We love our interaction and the ability to meet the people in our community and give back, so this is absolutely one of our favorite days."
Predators players were unable to participate in the deliveries this year due to NHL COVID protocols, but they still helped to contribute to the cause, and the participation has helped the initiative grow year after year while making a noticeable impact. The partnership with the Metro officers is also noteworthy, and both organizations get plenty out of the deliveries while bettering the community they serve.

"This is twofold - residents see the Predators in a positive light when they see our logo, and the same with the police," King said. "When they have the officers next to us in the community, they can see that we're united and both out giving goodwill to the community, and it's not a bad thing to have these two partners out in their neighborhood. We're here doing great things to be a welcome sight, not a negative thing."
"My team, we just got done doing the 'Trunk or Treat' with Halloween, and every day, we're out here," Kedzierski said. "We'll drive around in the cars, but also, we'll get out on foot patrol and walk through the areas, make face-to-face contact, and just say, 'Hi, how's everybody doing?' [We just want to be] very visible to the public, hopefully be able to achieve better community relations and answer whatever service they need."
Officers came toting more than just turkey and fixings - they passed out candy, Preds t-shirts and stickers to children in the neighborhood - and surprise after pleasant surprise came as a knock on the door brought a bountiful meal for families to enjoy.
And when residents pull their turkey out of the oven on Thanksgiving with their new Preds potholder, perhaps they'll do so with an extra dose of gratitude for a pair of organizations striving to make Nashville a better place.
"Thanksgiving is what brings people together, and that's what we do at the hockey games - we bring 17,000 people together," King said. "So, if we can bring a family together over a meal at their table and bring goodwill and happiness, it's just a small token, but we know how far a solid meal can go for people."