PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  — A Trail Blazer stepped off the court and into the community Tuesday.

Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath joined kids in Northeast Portland, mixing basketball, holiday cheer, and food for families in need.

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Inside the Blazers Boys and Girls Club, the gym lit up as kids ran drills, shared laughs, and soaked up face time with an NBA player.

“You know, I feel like I’ve been here in Portland for some time now, and I feel like I’m a part of the community,” Reath said. “So for me to be able to come here and give back to them definitely means a lot to me.”

But this visit went beyond basketball. Reath teamed up with United Health Care and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metro to help 100 families take home boxes packed with pantry staples, enough for about 50 meals each.

“All you got to really worry about as a kid is just having fun in the moment. And just enjoying the short time as being a kid,” Reath said. “Because once you get to a certain age, it’s a whole different ballgame.”

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The Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metro has spent nearly 80 years providing young people with safe, supportive spaces and programs to help them thrive in school, life, and future careers.

“So we do a lot of toy drives with partners. We do essential items with partners in addition to the food drives with partners, so that over the holiday season, we can really provide full access and wraparound service for our families,” said Mandy Tsang, senior director of development, operations, and advancement at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro.

From pasta and rice to proteins and canned goods, families left with food, and kids left with memories from the court.

Community partners say moments like this create impact that lasts well beyond the holidays.

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“(I am) just hoping that everybody has a safe, safe Christmas. Safe holidays, enjoyed with their families. But, yeah, definitely. It’s great,” Reath said.

Food insecurity hits hard in Oregon. More than 114,000 people in Multnomah County face challenges getting enough to eat — especially this time of year.

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