Eight hundred children will not go hungry this Thanksgiving. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is set to throw his fourth annual "Cam’s Thanksgiving Jam" next week. On Monday, the quarterback will feed 800 underprivileged kids in Charlotte, N.C. Newton is expected to serve the full course meal. You can't have Thanksgiving without some football. CBS Sports reports the athlete may even play some touch football afterwards.
The Cam Newton Foundation also states the children will also take home a meal for their families made possible by Food Lion Feeds.
Cam's Thanksgiving Jam throughout the years
Last year, Newton suited up in an apron to serve nearly 900 children before the holiday and even held a dab competition. The "dab" is Newton's signature move. During an interview with WCNC, the local NBC affiliate in Charlotte, the star quarterback says the gift of giving is like a boomerang.
"To see the kids, to see the parents come out and to share a plate, share a moment, share a conversation with them, is always beneficial to both parties," Newton said.
"Not only for them, but for me as well."
The event featured a DJ, face painters and balloon artists.
Cam Newton teams up with Food Lion
It takes a community to feed 800 children year after year. This Thanksgiving is no different. Food Lion is a company focused on ending hunger. Food Lion is based in North Carolina. Since 2014, the company has served more than 219 million meals. The Food Lion Feeds campaign "Holidays Without Hunger" starts Nov. 16 and runs through Dec 21. The company is working towards providing 500 million meals to families by the end of 2020.
Poverty rates in North Carolina
According to TalkPoverty.org, North Carolina's population is 9,691,794. The number of people living in poverty is 1,668,686.
Of those in poverty, 24 percent are children. The federal government has defined the poverty level as an annual income of $23,283 or less for a family of four. The poverty level for an individual is an annual income of $11,945. Many of those are food insecure but for one day, Newton will give them the security of knowing they will have a hot meal that day.