Dalton and his wife Whitney personally donated the funds to host a full Thanksgiving dinner catered by Hy-Vee, as well as to hire a D.J. to spin fun tunes that echoed throughout the gym. Saint Paul community members of all ages, many of them wearing Vikings jerseys or sweatshirts, filled their plates with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, salad, rolls and – of course – pumpkin and apple pie.
“So many of these families are single mothers, single fathers, families who are together but may be struggling, and they need this meal,” Dalton said. “We’re so grateful we can give it to them.”
Just over 24 hours after helping Minnesota pull off an overtime win in Chicago, Dalton signed autographs and tossed footballs with young fans. Whitney visited nearby with an older woman, who thanked the Risners for giving back.
“It’s so wonderful getting everybody together for dinner, the kids playing games,” Whitney said. “Minnesota is such a cool spot, and being able to give back to the Twin Cities has been really, really great – and especially around the holidays.”
She and Dalton share a Christian faith that plays a significant role in their desire to give back.
“I love the game of football, and I hope people remember me as a great guard and all that stuff, but more importantly, I hope they remember me for the heart I have for other people, because that’s what really matters,” Dalton said. “I’ve been a big believer in this my whole career: you can write checks, you can show up for a photo op for 30 minutes … but it’s the boots on the ground that I think is the biggest thing.
“And Jesus makes this all possible,” he later added. “Without Jesus, I don’t think Whitney and I have this platform to make an impact. He’s the one who motivates me. Jesus gave His life for me, He gave His life for everyone, and everything starts and ends with that for me. With football, with community, with my day, how can I live like Jesus did?”