The good things Minnesota Vikings players do rarely make the headlines.

One example of how players give back to our community was on Tuesday, when a group of them joined volunteers from the nonprofit organization Cheerful Givers to assemble 200 toy-filled birthday gift bags for less fortunate children.

Andrew Sendejo, D'Aundre Reed, John Sullivan, Tyrone McKenzie and Vikings mascot "Viktor," along with Brad Madson, director of community relations, and Lester Bagley, vice president of public affairs, showed their support by inviting volunteers to a birthday-bag event at their Winter Park facility.

The bags are distributed to parents in Minnesota who simply can't afford to recognize their child's birthday with a gift.

KAREN KITCHEL, EAGAN

The writer is president of Cheerful Givers.