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While used to shooting layups for pro-basketball franchises, former NBA player and University of Maryland star point guard Steve Francis looked right at home handing out Thanksgiving food packages to the needy last week in Silver Spring.

Of course for Francis, who is sitting out this season as a free agent due to a bothersome knee injury, the Silver Spring/Takoma Park area is home. And from the smiles and laughs he shared with families and Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington coordinators Nov. 24, it was good to be back.

"It definitely humbles you a lot to know these are the people who raised you, who gave me my start," Francis said after meeting with former neighbors and handing out food. "I'm just like everyone else here; I grew up on Maple Avenue [in Takoma Park]."

Partnering with the Steve Francis Foundation for the second year in a row, ACS supplied 600 low-income families with Thanksgiving packages this year at its regional building at 501 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring, accounting for every needy family listed in the 20910 ZIP code area with a turkey and bags of donated Thanksgiving-themed food items, according to ACS Executive Director Ron Wiley.

"We service here at least 2,500 households a year with food, clothing, anything they need," he said. "It pleases me that someone who has had the success that Steve has had has never forgotten his roots."

As each family filtered through the food line, Francis walked around the waiting area, shaking hands and frequently stopping to talk with a former neighbor or familiar face. Lawrence Marr of Takoma Park had the basketball player laughing as they fondly remembered Francis' childhood antics in the city.

"Oh, I've known him since he was a little boy; I've always been here," Marr said. "I think it's great what he's doing here today."

Even as the last few turkeys were handed out and Francis prepared to head home with his wife and 2-year-old son, Wiley and the rest of ACS were already looking ahead. While ACS's donations and funds were exhausted by the Thanksgiving drive, Wiley hopes to run Christmas and holiday programs in future years.

Of course, ACS is not alone in its charitable endeavors; the Takoma Park Lions Club, which just celebrated its 80th anniversary Nov. 20, joined with the city's volunteer fire department to deliver 27 dinners to the county's needy families Nov. 24. Each of the meals fed six to eight people and cost roughly $40 per package, according to volunteer Fire Chief Jimmy Jarboe.