Coming back home

Michael Peterson picks up the tab for Thanksgiving dinner

Atlanta Falcons linebacker and Alachua native Michael Peterson autographs one of many t-shirts for youngsters at his foundation's annual turkey dinner giveaway just days before Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving dinner was made possible for 100Alachua families thanks to National Football League player Michael Peterson, an Alachua native.  It was Peterson’s foundation which donated the turkeys to area residents identified by local school as the neediest.

Peterson was on hand to give out Thanksgiving’s main course from 4:30 to 6:30 Tuesday, Nov. 23 outside of Hitchcock’s market.  Surrounded by the lucky turkey dinner ticket holders, Peterson said the giveaway was just one of the ways he wanted to say “thank you” to his hometown.

And by teaming up with Hitchcock’s Market, families receiving the Peterson Thanksgiving dinner giveaway came with a lot more than just a turkey.  With all the necessities for a tasty, wholesome and filling Thanksgiving meal, the dinners included the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, brown and serve rolls and a pie.

Reatha and Porter Peterson helped ticket holders collect their meals alongside their son while he signed autographs for youngsters.  Peterson gave away some 50 t-shirts that he autographed along with a variety of other items brought by children who waited in line to meet the professional athlete.

The turkey dinner giveaway has been a tradition carried on for over a decade by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Michael Peterson and his younger brother Adrian Peterson, a former Chicago Bears running back.  Area churches, schools and businesses also held several other turkey dinner giveaways.

The Peterson brothers both played football at Santa Fe High School.  Adrian Peterson, 31, graduated from Georgia Southern University where he starred on the 1999 and 2000 NCAA I-AA national championship teams before being drafted by the NFL in 2002.  Michael Peterson, 34, graduated from Santa Fe High School and continued on in his football career at the University of Florida where he starred on the 1996 national championship team.  Michael currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons.