As he leaned over to serve a tray of healthy food to a hungry resident of Dallas Life Homeless Recovery Center, Mavericks’ legend Rolando Blackman got an unusual request.

“I really like that hat,” said Emanuel as he began his meal. “You know where I can get one?”

Without thinking twice, Blackman took off his blue-and-white Mavericks’ emblazoned Santa hat and gave it to the man, who quickly pulled it on his head.

Blackman led a group of about 15 men (and a couple of brave women who joined them) from the Mavericks’ front office during their day of service volunteering at Dallas Life. They dished out food to many of the 210 residents. But mostly they tried to put smiles on faces.

Like the one that could not be wiped off of Emanuel’s face. Little did he know that he already was going to be getting a hat. But to get it from Blackman made it extra special.

“I had been given an extra hat and knew that Emanuel was a big fan of the Mavs,” said Pamela Culbertson, Dallas Life’s director of volunteers. “I called him to my office to give him the hat and as he walked in he already had a Dallas Mavericks Santa hat on his head.

“I said: ‘You already received a hat?’ A big smile came to his face and he told me Rolando had given it to him.”

Blackman was a star at the event as residents filtered in and out of the cafeteria-style eating area.

He’s been doing the event for several years.

“This is what it’s all about,” he said. “Everybody here has a story and all of them are just trying to forge a better life for themselves. And the veterans that are here have incredible stories and truly deserve our help. It’s just fun to get to hang out with everybody here.”

When she ended up with an extra Mavs hat, thanks to Blackman’s gift to Emanuel, Culbertson remembered that Dallas Life’s food-service director was one of Blackman’s biggest fans and was helping in the kitchen that day.

“Orlando could not believe he was looking at his biggest basketball idol, Rolando Blackman,” Culbertson said. “I asked Orlando to come to my office and gave him the extra hat.

“He immediately took his stocking cap off so fast and put on the Santa hat.  He said: ‘I followed him from the moment he came into the NBA. His shot was out of this world.”

The big smile on Orlando’s face told you everything you needed to know about the event.

“This is one of our best initiatives of the year and we’re planning on doing a lot more of them,” said Kyle Gillespy, one of the leaders of Men of the Mavs employee resource group. “It’s great to help out an organization that is doing so much for so many people to get them a better life.”

Culbertson gave a terrific snapshot of the work done at the facility, which has been in operation since 1954 and has been at its current location on Cadiz Street just south of Interstate 30 since 1981.

The facility offers “help and hope” for all that it serves, Culbertson said.

The 10-month Homeless No More program guides participants through a four-step process of recovery classes and culminates with a graduation that sends out those who complete the program as productive, self-sufficent members of society.

About 65 percent of the residents at Dallas Life are in the Homeless No More program.

Dallas Life also has programs for seniors, the disabled and veterans – in conjunction with the Veterans’ Administration.

The Mavericks’ entourage was augmented by the arrival of team mascot Champ, who took photos with many of the diners, provided laughs and also helped lead a rendition of Happy Birthday for one of the residents who was celebrating her special day.

She then was presented with a gift bag full of Mavericks’ goodies – a birthday celebration she’ll remember forever.

The Mavericks have an array of community service projects throughout the year, but are particularly busy during the holiday season.

JaVale McGee, Dwight Powell, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Frank Ntilikina helped hand out turkeys and all the fixings in mid-November to families served at Buckner International.

The Mavs also joined forces with Minnie’s Food Pantry to hand out thousands of turkey dinners to people in need the week before Thanksgiving.

Cookies with Santa is upcoming and is always a special event for kids and families and the Mavericks have numerous other Christmas appearances scheduled.

“It was such a joy to have the Men of the Mavs and Champ at Dallas Life,” Culbertson said. “There was so much excitement in the air as the lunch meal was served to the residents.  So much kindness and respect was shown to each person as a tray of food was given to them.

“Each of these gestures of kindness say so much about the people who represent (the Mavericks). You came to serve the people at Dallas Life and you made a difference in the lives of those who were there. We can’t thank them enough.”

Twitter: @ESefko

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