Published: June 11, 2009 08:27 pm      

Auction, food boxes highlight Adrian Peterson Day Saturday

PALESTINE — Family, friends and fans of NFL star Adrian Peterson, a Minnesota Vikings running back and Palestine High School graduate, are invited to attend the annual Adrian Peterson Day celebration on Saturday in Palestine.

“He will be back home again to spend the day in the park with all of his fans, family and friends,” said Carol Pegues, one of the organizers.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Saw Mill Hollow Park, 213 W. Crawford St. across from Shelton Gin in Old Town Palestine, behind the Palestine Herald-Press.

Peterson will help international hunger relief organization Feed The Children distribute boxes of food and personal care items to 400 Palestine families at 10:30 a.m.

Adrian Peterson All Day Foundation is a Feed The Children partner agency and has pre-identified the recipient families. The boxes are designed to help supplement a family for up to one week.

“We are so excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with Adrian Peterson,” said Larry Jones, founder and president of Feed The Children. “He has a true servant heart and we sincerely appreciate his gift of kindness. Many families in Palestine are experiencing difficult times right now so this food distribution will hopefully help those families in need.”

Peterson set Vikings single-season rushing record with 1,760 yards in 2008, now holding the first and third best single-season totals in team history in only two seasons. He became the first Viking to lead the NFL in rushing in 2008 and was named “Player of the Year” by the Maxwell Club. Peterson ranks fourth in NFL history for most rushing yards in a player’s opening two seasons with 3,101 yards.

He re-wrote the Vikings’ rookie record book with one of the biggest debut seasons in NFL history en route to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year awards. He set a new NFL single-game rushing mark with 296 yards against San Diego on Nov. 4, 2007. Peterson played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a freshman.

Other events during Adrian Peterson Day will include a live auction, music and games for children. Vendors will sell food, or attendees can bring their own.

The live auction will be held later in the day (no specific time was given as of press time) and will include items from Peterson’s collection, including framed photos and memorabilia.

“Please bring your lawn chairs and blankets,” Peques said.

Admission to the park is a canned good item. The canned goods collected and the live auction proceeds will go to the Palestine Multicultural Education Center.

For more information, contact Carol Pegues at 972-754-6734 or Angela Jones at 903-394-1525.