As a white Toyota rolled through the Community College of Aurora parking lot, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound man walked up to the passenger-side window. Wearing a black Colorado Avalanche hat, the driver asked him if he was a hockey fan.
“I like the Avalanche,” he responded. “I play for the Broncos, though.”
“Who are you?” the driver asked.
“I’m Zach Allen.”
The woman’s face lit up with surprise.
“Oh my God, you’re doing so good this year!”
Allen smiled, nodding his head in humble acknowledgment of his incredible start to the season. Holding a wrapped turkey, he asked the driver if she wanted it in the trunk or the back seat. The former, she said. He opened the trunk, placed the turkey inside and tapped lightly on the window.
“Happy Thanksgiving!”
Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen passes out turkeys to Denver residents in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies at Community College of Aurora – Lowry Campus on Nov. 10, 2026.
That was one of more than 30 interactions Allen had during his second annual Thanksgiving food distribution, held Tuesday morning in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies at the Community College of Aurora’s Lowry Campus. The group distributed 120 turkeys — paid for and supplied by Allen — along with stuffing mix, green beans, corn muffin mix and ham to Denver-area residents. More than 100 cars lined the campus parking lot, with the line stretching back into the street.
“Obviously a lot of Broncos fans here, and it’s just really special to interact,” Allen said. “A lot of people can take turkeys for granted at Thanksgiving. Hearing some of the stories from people who haven’t had a turkey in five years … Thanksgiving is such a special holiday. It’s some of my fondest memories. Really glad we were able to give it back to some people.”
Kaila Green, the food bank’s direct services supervisor, said a simple act like distributing turkeys gives people a sense of normalcy around the holiday. Green said the food bank serves around 80 households per month but typically sees a spike in November.
“The holidays are hard for people in general. Money is tight. But being able to offer preferred food, specific to the holiday, that’s just a huge thing,” Green said.
Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen passes out turkeys to Denver residents in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies at Community College of Aurora – Lowry Campus on Nov. 10, 2026.
The food bank tried to keep Allen’s appearance under wraps to prevent lines from overflowing. His presence surprised some, while others learned who he was while waiting in their cars. Molly Allen told The Denver Post that her husband has been passionate about working with charitable organizations since entering the league, but the couple has also found community staples since arriving in Denver in 2023.
The Allens’ focus is on food insecurity and youth education, Molly said. In 2025, 35% of Denver adults reported cutting or skipping meals because of financial strain, according to a City of Denver survey. With the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and rising grocery prices, some families are struggling even more to put food on the table, food bank representative Joanna Wise said.
“It’s no longer a temporary, emergency relief that they’re coming out to the food banks to receive. It’s more of a long-term type of solution that they’re looking for,” Wise said. “We’re seeing more people who are brand-new, have never reached out for help before, and they’re coming to our distributions.”
Even with the Broncos on a bye this week, Allen chose to stay in Denver instead of flying elsewhere. He said he’d be checking social media for trade deadline news Tuesday, with the deadline set for 2 p.m., but would try to spend the rest of the off week at home with his wife and dog.
“We have GM Justin Strnad, he’s grading every trade (in the team’s group chat),” Allen said. “After today, probably get off Twitter for the rest of the week and reset.”
Allen hosted a similar event last year near Empower Field. He’s not only helping put food on the table for some Denver residents, but he’s also working the fandom lines.
“We had a Chiefs fan, but she said she was going to convert to a Broncos fan. We did our job,” Allen said.
A full morning for the star defensive tackle.
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