Defensive tackle Jarran Reed played college football in Mississippi and Alabama and has spent his four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten his hometown of Goldsboro, North Carolina.

On Tuesday, Reed announced he was working with the United Way, Salvation Army and YMCA to help feed children, the elderly and front-line workers in Goldsboro during the coronavirus pandemic.

I want to thank @GoldsboroYMCA United way of Wayne county and the Salvation Army of Wayne County along with justos catering with helping me provide support for my community in Goldsboro Nc. pic.twitter.com/RqBSg8onu1 — jarran reed (@1j_reed) April 20, 2020

Reed plans to provide 25,000 meals over the next eight weeks in the city of about 35,000 in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain region. Reed said he worked with Justo’s Grillin’ and Catering on the initiative.

“I want to give an extra thanks to the essential workers and the front-line workers that are out there every day putting their life on the line to help fight COVID-19,” Reed said in his Twitter announcement. “Let’s all stay safe together and be blessed to fight COVID-19 together.”

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

After two seasons of JUCO football, Reed played for Alabama in 2014 and 2015. The Crimson Tide captured the CFP national championship during Reed’s senior season.

Reed could have become an unrestricted free agent last month. But two days before that would have happened, he agreed to a two-year, $23 million contract extension with the Seahawks.

Reed joined Seattle in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. During his NFL career, Reed has played in 56 regular-season games, with 47 starts, and five playoff games. He’s recorded 156 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, 44 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.

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