It's a time of year when we all give thanks and count our blessings for what we have. For Steelers players, they are making sure those in the Pittsburgh area who need a helping hand receive blessings as well.

Over the past few weeks, players have spread those blessings in the community, providing warm, comforting Thanksgiving meals for individuals, as well as providing turkeys and all the fixings for others to have their own holiday dinner at home.

The Steelers have partnered with multiple agencies to give back this year, making sure the most vulnerable have food on their table or a warm meal this holiday season.

"Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers is not only having excellence on the field, but also off the field as well," said Blayre Holmes-Davis, the Steelers senior director of community relations. "There is an expectation that when you have time, you give back to the community, you step up because there's a lot of people that are in need and a lot of people that aren't as fortunate as they are.

"It's great to continue to see that momentum with a lot of our guys who've been here for years, but especially a lot of our guys who are new to the area be able to say they want to help and ask what organization they can partner with."

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The Steelers teamed up with the Pirates and Penguins once again 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 three teams came together as one in an effort to fight food insecurity in the city.

"This partnership with all three sports teams, being able to provide food to families that are in need, is really important," said Holmes-Davis. "The food bank has seen an increase, even post-Covid, in families still needing food, especially during the holidays. We want to make sure that everybody is able to have a meal and to just break bread and spend time together.

"It's really important for the guys to take part and make sure they're able to give that to families, but not only give it, but actually make sure as those cars come up to give them everything that they'll need for their meal and just to say have a great Thanksgiving."

The group has done this the last few years to share with those in the community who are struggling during the holiday season, greeting everyone with smiles and boundless energy.

Approximately 300 families were able to receive their Thanksgiving meal at the drive-up distribution held outside of PNC Park, with an assist from the players and staff.

"It makes the city know that we prioritize giving back, not only one individual sports team, but all three of us," said Holmes-Davis. "Having a partnership just levels up that impact of saying all three of us are coming together because we know this is such a big need, but we all love to work together, we all love to do community stuff.

"Any time that the city can see all three sports teams come together, and more importantly our players, to be able to see them come together to serve people in their community, it's just a great opportunity."

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Gathering around the table for a holiday meal is a tradition for families, talking about life and sharing stories.

That is exactly why safety Deshon Elliott wanted to gather a group of local teens to give them the same type of experience.

Elliott hosted a group of teens, ages 12-16, youth from Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens for an intimate Thanksgiving dinner where he encouraged them to have discussions around mental health and overcome adversity.

"It was an opportunity to talk, have togetherness," said Elliott. "For me, it's important because since I've been in the NFL, we don't get a chance to really experience Thanksgiving. My family lives kind of far away. It's hard to go through that time without the people you love the most.

"I think it's cool to have that conversation with those kids. It's about your friends, people that you trust and talk to about any situation. Hopefully they did enjoy that. Hopefully they enjoyed the time together."

Elliott wanted the conversation to happen in a welcoming manner, which is why he hosted the dinner to put everyone in a comfortable situation.

"We wanted to make it as comfortable as possible," said Elliott. "Everybody felt comfortable, they were able to be open, express how they felt about their situations.

"I'm sure people there were friends and some people didn't know each other. But I could tell by the end of the dinner that everyone felt comfortable enough to laugh, talk to each other and really get to know each other. And that was the main part for me.

"There were a couple of kids at the start of it, you could tell they were in a shell, and by the middle of it they started opening up, expressing how they felt and joining in the conversations. I think kids are hilarious. I'm a very honest person, so once I started being honest about how I felt, they shared how they felt, chirping in on certain conversations that we had, I just felt like at that point we we're going down the right path."

What Elliott loved was when he left, he felt like he got as much out of it as the kids themselves did.

"When I left and drove home, I was thinking that was so refreshing," said Elliott. "I have some things going on with myself. So just being able to talk to them and get those things out, it was really nice."

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Ever since he entered the NFL, quarterback Justin Fields made a commitment to helping others, especially during the holidays.

And he is continuing that by hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for the 412 Youth Zone, an agency dedicated to supporting young adults, aged 16 to 23, who are transitioning out of the foster care system or facing unstable housing, in their transition to adulthood. Their mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where young people from Allegheny County can find the stability, support, and resources they need to reach their goals and achieve their aspirations.

"This time of year, you emphasize being around family, togetherness and stuff like that," said Fields. "I feel like giving back to people who might not have that opportunity, or who aren't as blessed to be in this situation as some of us might be, is important.

"It's important to show them that you care and to provide them the experience of togetherness. That's why I like to give back at Thanksgiving and Christmas."

Fields did a similar event in Chicago in 2023, working with the Empowerment Church to provide dinner at The Red Door Meeting Place for those who needed a lift.

"We provided the food and went there and served it to the people," said Fields. "Those things matter."

One of the things that matters most to Fields is being there for others, giving of his time to show that he cares and wants to make a difference.

"I want them to know that I'm present, that I am there for them," said Fields. "We're at a spot where people know who we are, but don't really know who you are. So, it's always good sitting down with them and getting to know different people and them getting to know us on a personal level.

"I think it's different when you're talking to somebody and having a conversation with someone one-on-one rather than following you on Instagram or social media, or something like that.

"I love giving back and love putting a smile on people's faces."

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When the Steelers made a commitment to tight end Pat Freiermuth earlier this year, signing him to a contract extension, he wanted to return the favor and commit himself to the Pittsburgh community.

And throughout this season, he has done just that, with the holidays the main time he wants to do his part to help others.

That is why Freiermuth hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for 50 kids at the Carnegie Boys and Girls Club. It was an opportunity for the kids to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal with their friends, while feeling the warm spirit of the holiday.

"With the long-term investment the team made in me, I want to be able to give back as much as I can in the community while I'm here," said Freiermuth. "Every time I can do that, I try to do something."

Freiermuth also provided gift cards for the kids' families to help them purchase Thanksgiving meals for a dinner at home with the ones they love.

"This is the time of year when there's a lot of people struggling," said Freiermuth. "This time of the year is very important to me. I was very fortunate growing up that I was able to have food on the table during the holidays and be with family and stuff.

"Being the position I am in now, being able to help ones that aren't as fortunate as myself to be able to have a nice meal on Thanksgiving, be able to get stuff for Christmas. So, it means a lot to me to be able to help."

One of the most important aspects for Freiermuth is to be there in person to do the events, connect with kids and others and let them see that he truly cares.

"Being able to meet the kids, talk to them, understand their background and stuff is special," said Freiermuth. "It helps me grow as a person, helps me influence the community as best I can."

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Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward hosted his annual Thanksgiving food distribution, holding it at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Heyward, who was joined by some of his teammates for the event, handed out turkeys as well as aided the families with shopping at the on-site market the food bank now offers.

"During the holiday season, people usually are gathering around with families and sometimes there's insecurity behind it," said Heyward. "Hopefully we can just help out, provide a meal that people are looking for and help fight that insecurity they are feeling."

Heyward's efforts are a continuation of what he has done throughout his career earned him the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. He has continually worked with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, understanding how great the need is in the Western Pennsylvania area.

"It's a small thing we're doing," said Heyward. "We are trying to help as much as we can. It's all about doing your part and helping others.

"When the holidays come around, the need definitely is stronger. People are trying to do what they can to get through things. We just want to do what we can do."

The food bank has provided the Pittsburgh community with nearly 48 million meals, something they know wouldn't be possible without the combined efforts of everyone in the region, including Heyward.

His hope, now, is to see others get involved, to inspire people to give back to agencies like the food bank and others which are helping those in the community who are fighting food insecurity.

"Maybe if people see this type of thing, it inspires them to give to something like the food bank," said Heyward. "I really do hope it inspires and just becomes contagious. It's about everyone giving back, myself, my teammates, our community and our country."

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Defensive end Larry Ogunjobi has made it a tradition to give back at the holidays, hosting his third annual Thanksgiving dinner for families served by the YWCA in Pittsburgh.

Ogunjobi spent an evening with the families, serving dinner and visiting with the individuals.

"I think it's important because you have families there, you have kids there," said Ogunjobi. "Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that was always big to my family. So just being able to spend time and give back is always going to be important to me."

One of the favorite parts of the event for Ogunjobi is seeing the joy he is able to bring to families who just need an extra helping hand during a time of year when they struggle to make ends meet.

"They're super happy," said Ogunjobi. "Sometimes you don't understand how much it means. Nobody wants to be in that situation where you have to go to places like that. But when you get there and it's a lot of open arms welcoming you and a lot of smiles, it really helps.

"The kids are always happy. At first, they don't know if they want to come back for seconds and all that kind of stuff. But you tell them there's plenty and it's all for them. It was a really cool experience to see how they reacted."

In addition to providing the dinner, Ogunjobi gave the families gift cards to help them provide their own at home dinner, giving them the opportunity to enjoy Thanksgiving Day the way so many other families do.

"I think the togetherness part is really cool, coming together as a community," said Ogunjobi. "But when they are able to spend time together as their own family, that is super important to spend time together and really just enjoy the holiday with their own family."