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Darren Wilson

Michael Brown's dad hands out holiday turkeys

Yamiche Alcindor
USA TODAY
Michael Brown Sr. delivers turkeys to residents along Canfield Drive, near the site where his son, Michael Brown, was killed, in Ferguson, Mo.

FERGUSON, Mo. — As the St. Louis area waits anxiously for word on whether a grand jury will indict a white police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black youth, the teen's father spent Saturday morning handing out free turkeys in the apartment complex where his son was killed.

Michael Brown Sr. and his wife, Cal, said they decided to volunteer in the community because they wanted to give back to people who gave support to their family. Many in Canfield Green Apartments stood outside as the father walked door to door handing out food.

"This will be our first Thanksgiving without our son," Brown said Saturday. "The family just had to roll up our sleeves and help the community. We thought this was the best for us, to just help back out. We love the support, came to give back."

A grand jury is deciding whether to indict officer Darren Wilson, 28, in the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18. It convened Aug. 20 to hear evidence. At issue is how Brown, who was unarmed, died. Police say Brown struggled with Wilson inside his police car, then reached for Wilson's weapon. Brown's family and some witnesses say Wilson killed Brown as he raised his hands in surrender.

Brown's father joined former NFL player Demetrious Johnson, who has been giving out turkeys in St. Louis for 23 years, and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who has participated in the event every year since coming into office 14 years ago. Michael Brown Sr. called Johnson this week to ask whether Brown's family could join volunteers in giving out the turkeys.

Johnson, a father of six children, said he respected Brown's efforts to help the community, despite his loss.

"I don't know that I would have the same strength that he has," Johnson said of Michael Brown Sr. "I love my kids so much, and they are so special to me. To even try to put it out of your mind for a few hours to try to have some type of normality in your life is hard to do. I applaud him because, honestly, I don't know if I could have done it."

Brown said he was doing it to keep his son's legacy alive.

"Nobody else knows his heart but me, so this is what he would do," Brown said.

Brown's wife said the late teen and his siblings planned to give up getting Christmas gifts to help the homeless. In his memory, the family gave out free dinners rather than sit at home "drowning in grief," she said.

"This is just the beginning," Cal Brown said. "We have a lot more community initiatives that we plan on doing."

The couple gave out about 70 turkeys. They personally bought some turkeys with their money and also handed out turkeys from their church and Johnson's foundation.

Slay said the turkey giveaway allowed the community to come together despite the tension as people await the grand jury decision.

"It is really good to see the community doing what we do all the time — helping each other, gathering together, particularly during the holiday season near Thanksgiving, showing compassion, showing solidarity, showing that we can all come together for a really good cause," Slay said. "There are a lot of images that people see of protesting and a lot of emotion and anger in the community. But when you're here, you can see that's not what St. Louis is all about."

Jasmine Bivens, 21, received one of the turkeys from Michael Brown Sr.

"It's a sad moment because of why he's doing it," she said. "It really touched me."

Cal Brown said this Thanksgiving will be tough, but that her family will have to push forward for their remaining children.

"We will miss him — his wittiness, his pranks, him with his big plate of food sitting there like a king," she said.

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