Just In Time for Thanksgiving, Annual All-Star Giveback Brings the Holiday Spirit to Metro Detroit Residents

For the last 25 years, Tarence Wheeler and the Tarence Wheeler Foundation, along with hundreds of volunteers and local celebrities, have helped local residents enjoy the gift of a Thanksgiving feast. This year was no different, as Wheeler and his team of volunteers mustered in the rain to hand out over 3,000 turkeys, food baskets, and other donated items to Metro Detroit residents at River Rouge High School.

During the event, Wheeler spoke not only about the importance of giving out turkeys for the holiday, but also being able to provide support with other services that residents may need from companies like DTE and Comerica Bank.

“God is so good to us. I mean just our partnerships. Me and Derrick (Coleman) started this 25 years ago,” Wheeler said.

Volunteers from Ford Motor Co, Marathon Corporation, the FBI, and more were on location to give back and brighten the holidays for residents.

Just like in past years, this year’s All-Star Giveback: Thanksgiving Edition, had several former NBA and NFL players from the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Lions also on hand including Lomas Brown, Earl Cureton, and Derrick Coleman, who happens to be Co-Founder of the event alongside Wheeler.  Other notables that were seen passing out goods were Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington, Actor/Political Candidate Hill Harper, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Garlin Gilchrist, Emagine Theaters Founder Paul Glantz, and Circuit Court Judge Craig Strong.

The line of cars wrapped around the neighborhood and down Jefferson Avenue as far as could be seen.  The event started at 11 a.m., however there was one lady, who went by the name of Lori, who arrived at midnight to be the first in line.  Lori, and the other thousands of residents who would not allow the rain to defeat them, certainly will have a happier holiday thanks to Wheeler and all the volunteers that made the giveback possible.