Steelers players are committed to giving back to the community year-round, but around the holidays they take it to another level.

Over the last few weeks, players have given their time and resources to make Thanksgiving special for families in the Western Pennsylvania area who are struggling to make ends meet, many faced with food insecurity.

Whether it was providing the necessities for families to make their own Thanksgiving dinner or sitting down and having a special meal with those in the community, players have been pitching in with local agencies in the area to help battle the challenge of food insecurity.

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The Steelers once again partnered with the Pirates and Penguins for a #BurghProud Thanksgiving Meal Distribution, with players, coaches and staff from all three teams joining forces to distribute turkeys and all the fixings to hundreds in conjunction with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Giant Eagle.

The combined power of the three teams working together made for an afternoon of helping those in the community who are struggling to put food on the table during a time when gathering around a Thanksgiving dinner is special.

"Having everyone come together like this for one cause means so much to the families who benefit from this distribution," said Lisa Scales, the President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. "Athletes know how important good nutrition is, how important it is to eat well, to have healthy food available for themselves and their families. Food is a basic human right. We want all our neighbors to have the food they need to lead healthy, active lives."

Approximately 300 families were able to receive their Thanksgiving meal during the drive-up distribution, which was held outside of PNC Park.

Players, coaches and staff assisted in loading the cars, greeting the families and doing their part to help fight food insecurity, which is at an all-time high now.

"In terms of the pandemic, we saw a surge in demand during that time," said Scales. "And then it had ebb and flowed a little bit over the years since. But in the last two years, demand has spiked again and has been at an all-time high.

"Even before this most recent crisis with the government shutdown and the impacts of the state budget, which caused even more people to come to us, we were already seeing a very high demand and long lines at our food pantries.

"In one week alone we distributed one million pounds of food from our warehouse. That was the most ever in our history."

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Safety DeShon Elliott might be on the Reserve/Injured List, but that isn't stopping him from giving back to the community.

Elliott delivered all the makings for Thanksgiving dinner to families in the Woodland Hills School District, as well as opening his own food pantry to help those served at Dixon Middle School.

The pantry, named the 'DeShon Elliott Victory Vault,' will provide healthy snacks for kids during the day as well as staples for meal prep for families. There are also other items for the kids, including new sneakers for those in need.

"We are giving back to the community as much as we can," said Elliott. "When it comes to families, a lot of times kids come home, parents are tired from working hard. They don't have time to go grocery shopping, especially in this economy with inflation. I have some essentials here when it comes to pasta, tacos, whatever it might be.

"Also, when I was a kid growing up my parents wouldn't get off work until 5:30 and school would end at 3:30. Sometimes we would be waiting an hour, hour and a half to get picked up. Having the snacks here for them, the essentials, we even have shoes for kids who might need them.

"Anything matters; everything counts.

"Anytime you have the opportunity to give back you should. God has blessed me a lot financially and with opportunities. With how the world is right now, there is a lot of evil in the world. Being able to put some love into people, pour into people, means a lot to me and I hope it means something to them."

The food pantry is something that will be sustainable throughout the school year, helping kids who are oftentimes struggling with food insecurity.

"I can't expect children to come in and be ready to learn without making sure their basic necessities are met, which number one is food," said Rashawnda Rudolph, the Assistant Principal at Dixon Middle School. "I try to make sure our students have any type of food, a snack, anything. It helps them prepare to learn and it helps our overall school environment.

"It makes them feel like people care, people are paying attention if they ate or not and it shows a deeper connection.

"I think it's a blessing what DeShon has done. We partnered last year with DeShon for Christmas, and he was able to provide a lot of our families with shoes and clothes. Him being able to provide our food pantry, give out food boxes is a blessing to our school district and community. We are thankful to have him.

"With the recent economy the need has become higher. I have noticed more families vocalize the need for help, where before they wouldn't really ask. I do think the need is greater than what it traditionally has been. Us having this food pantry, this food drive really helps, especially around the holidays."

After celebrating the opening of the pantry with some of the students, Elliott delivered the meals to the families' homes, spreading the love he feels all need.

"It's really cool," said Elliott. "Thanksgiving is essential in America. Us being able to do these things, make it easier on the people, is special. It's a quality time most people don't get to do.

"It's different. Putting time into it. You can put money into anything. But putting your time in, you see their faces, see how kids react. When I was a kid, I saw Terrell Owens and other athletes. It's cool to leave a mark and I am trying to leave my mark as much as possible."

Tight end Pat Freiermuth and his finance, Jillian Cataldo, shared their blessings with people at the Hosanna House for Thanksgiving.

They provided and served Thanksgiving dinner to 150 families who are part of Hope Academy at Hosanna House, which offers high-quality care and early education services to children starting as toddlers. The facility's goal is to produce a generation of children prepared for the successful transition into grade school and beyond.

"Jillian and I really enjoyed spending some time with them, serving them a nice Thanksgiving meal, and just trying to bring some joy to them," said Freiermuth. "We are both passionate about giving back to the community and being able to provide people with opportunities, with the necessities, especially those who don't have everything they need, including food, during the holidays. Nobody should have to be hungry now or ever."

Like many organizations, Hosanna House is seeing increased need and facing their own struggles right now, so having Freiermuth take care of the meal for so many not only lifts the spirits of all, but it also lifts a burden.

"It's an exciting day for them," said Dr. Tammi McMillan, Vice President and Chief Program Officer for Hosanna House. "Speaking for Hosanna House, it means a lot because every year we try to provide a Thanksgiving meal or a holiday meal for the families, but we are on hard times right now. We are really on hard times.

"So, for Pat to come in and take that burden off of the organization, as well as the families, it's amazing. Typically, how we do it, Hosanna House will provide all the meat and table decor and things like that. But the families from each classroom provide a potluck dish. So, it's a huge meal. But with them taking that burden off, they really came through this year for this event.

"The current state that we are living in, we have a high percentage of low-income families, and we have middle class families as well, and everyone is strained. Just going out and shopping, trying to prepare these meals takes a lot. It's a lot for our families. This means so much to us."

Freiermuth, who launched the Freiermuth Fund earlier this year, has continually made a commitment to the Pittsburgh community to give back, whether it's for back to school, Thanksgiving or the Christmas holiday.

"It means a lot to us to be able to do this," said Freiermuth. "The one thing I always enjoy is being present with people, seeing them smile. We are super fortunate and thankful to spend time with others during the holidays, be around families and kids who just might need a little extra boost or something. It's awesome."

And this year, there is even an added feeling with the need so strong in the community.

"The need is definitely stronger this year everywhere," said Freiermuth. "It definitely feels a lot more special with food insecurity being so high. Just being able to give back food to those in need. It's definitely super important in this time right now

"And I love being there with them. I love that they can put a face to a name. It's just special."

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Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward has made a commitment to helping the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, hosting his annual Thanksgiving food distribution for the ninth year.

"It's very important to do this," said Heyward. "We can get caught up in the season and kind of forget what's important. And I think with SNAP benefits and everything that's been delayed, this is a proper opportunity for us to give back. And I'm very honored to have a lot of my guys that really support that as well.

"It's very sad for families to worry about where their next meal is going to come from, and for parents to go to work and have to worry about paying a light bill and other things, and then also have to worry about food on the table.

"I just think food insecurity is at an all-time high. I know it's only a one-time thing we do every year, but I think if you can provide a meal to families that can go a long way."

With the demand for services from the food bank at an all-time high, receiving help from players such as Heyward goes a long way.

"This is Cam's ninth annual Thanksgiving distribution," said Lisa Scales, the President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. "We have a long-standing partnership with Cam and it's just wonderful that he took the time to come to the food bank, distributed turkeys and all the fixings to families.

"It means so much that he's using his platform as a professional athlete to raise awareness. Not only to raise awareness about the significant problem of food insecurity, but it means so much to the families that the day he's here, it brings a smile to people's faces, gives them a sense of comfort knowing that the Pittsburgh Steelers are supporting them. And what a wonderful opportunity for families who were there with their kids to meet Cam. Many of them are meeting him for the first time.

"Cam's long-term commitment means so much to us. Our mission is simple, but profound to achieve lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes. We have this long-standing partnership with him, and for him to join with us year after year to carry out our mission, it helps elevate the issue and it brings other supporters to us. People in the community see that Cam is giving back. He's making a difference in people's lives.

"And to see Cam as a professional athlete giving back to the community, it just means so much to our families."

Heyward was joined by linebacker Alex Highsmith, offensive tackle Broderick Jones and former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch to hand out turkeys and other staples, as well as welcome families to shop at the on-site market at the food bank.

"I love that Cam brings younger players with him to the turkey distributions," said Scales. "I imagine that when he's back at the practice field or interacting in team meetings with the younger players, who I know look up to him as a leader, the message that he's sending is it's important to give back. I know he doesn't just give back to the food bank, he gives back in so many ways, has his own organization as well. The younger players see that, and what a wonderful legacy that he's leaving for all the younger players to emulate. And we have seen that. I've seen his influence over the years that other players he's brought to the turkey distributions."

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While he is new to the Pittsburgh community, tight end Jonnu Smith isn't new to giving back.

Smith, who started his own Nu Family Foundation, believes that using his platform to give back to the community is something he should do, something he expects from himself.

That is why he spent time at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, along with former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, giving back to those who need it the most at his Thanksgiving food distribution.

"Jonnu reached out to us several months ago," said Lisa Scales, the President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. "So, in his first few months he was with the team, he wanted to get engaged and this is his first engagement with our organization. I really do applaud his community service, especially throughout his career as a veteran. He has given back to the communities that he's been involved in for many years, and first through his own foundation, the Nu Family foundation.

"But he has served Thanksgiving meals, worked with at-risk youth when he was in Miami. So, it's really great to see him continue that tradition of giving back now that he is in Pittsburgh."

Smith has immersed himself in the Pittsburgh community this season, with helping to end food insecurity being one of the things he is passionate about.

"Everyone should have the food that they need," said Smith. "And not just for the holidays. Obviously, we in society express this time as a season of making sure that we give if we haven't already. I pride myself on not just being a seasonal giver, but an everyday giver. So, it's a time when a lot of families want to feel that love. Just being able to give back to the community is always something I want to be a part of.

"The struggles that lie ahead in this country, there are a lot of them. And there is always a need for food. That is one of them that always really hits home to me. I'm fortunate, my family's fortunate enough to eat and have a good meal every night. But not everyone is. I'm not blind to that fact and anywhere I can give back, I'm thankful to do it."

That attitude and approach of always being willing to give isn't something that is lost on those in need.

"We see the need every day," said Scales. "We're seeing record demand right now, and the need is continuing to grow. And as the holidays approach, this is a time that should be filled with warmth and togetherness and tradition. It's really important to the families who we are serving that we're providing those essential items to put on their table during Thanksgiving, but it's not just during this season. Hunger unfortunately is with people throughout the year.

"We see parents who are skipping meals so their kids can eat, seniors who are making that impossible choice between paying for their medication and paying for food. And it is year-round.

"Many of the families we serve are struggling every day to put food on the table. So, for Jonnu to recognize that we should think about the impact of food insecurity, not just during Thanksgiving, but throughout the year is important. We know that during the summer months, when kids aren't in school and getting those essential school meals, there is a spike in demand at that time for families with kids. In January and February, when heating bills are higher, many seniors who are on a fixed income are struggling between paying for their utilities, paying for medication, paying for food. Hunger doesn't go away after Thanksgiving, and we are thankful for people like Jonnu."