The Bears rookie class and a pair of former players helped spread holiday spirit by packing and delivering Thanksgiving meals for hundreds of families in the Chicagoland community through an annual initiative funded by Bears Care, the organization's charitable arm.
The Bears' "Lineup Against Hunger" program is a collaboration with the Firehouse Community Arts Center in the city's North Lawndale neighborhood — an organization that provides a safe haven for young people in Chicago through various events and arts programs dedicated to preventing and interrupting youth violence.
While the Bears have supported the organization since 2015, this year marks the fourth time the Thanksgiving event has been held. For the second consecutive year, all the Bears' rookies worked with the Firehouse and its founder & CEO, Pastor Phil Jackson, to get the meals prepped for distribution.
"We're just giving back for Thanksgiving," cornerback Reddy Steward said. "Packing up bread, butter, cranberry sauce, stuff like that for families around the neighborhood. It's fun. Doing little things like helping people out, that's always a good thing, it's always fun for us. Giving back is the main thing and I love doing it."
Jackson and other staff members at the Firehouse came out to Halas Hall last Monday to facilitate the packing event, giving them a chance to connect with the players.
"This is incredible to be able to be an organization like ours that's seen by an organization like the Bears — the legendary Chicago Bears — for many years," Jackson said. "'It's beautiful to see the rookies' newness to the city, newness to the team and their first year in the pros.
"To be able to know they're not only making an impact with their commitment on the field, but with us as well and whatever other areas they're passionate about in Chicago. The fact that they came out on a day after a game to really impact these families — we just take to heart because of their commitment to make that happen."
While the entire team has opportunities each week to give back to the community, the rookies took pride in coming together as a group to reciprocate the support they've felt since joining the team this spring.
"It's super important," quarterback Caleb Williams said. "Being able to be in the community, especially being a new face here, it gives you a little bit more sense of a home feeling. Having such a tight-knit group of players, but also being able to have that feeling from the community is really important. Any way we can give back and show our appreciation for all the fans and all the people in the community that support us is super important."
Former Bears defensive linemen Chris Zorich and Henry Melton also contributed to the effort Monday by traveling out to the Firehouse to pass out the 500 packed boxes, which included a fully cooked turkey and Thanksgiving sides.
Zorich and Melton toured the Firehouse with Jackson and spend time with the volunteers who helped deliver the food. For Zorich, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, the Lineup Against Hunger initiative hits close to home.
"This is a special situation," Zorich said. "It means a little bit more to me than maybe other folks because I was on the receiving end [of these programs]. I remember waiting in line for food, so this gives me an opportunity to really allow folks who are in a similar situation I was in, to benefit from programming through Bears Care and throughout the Bears community in the City of Chicago."
Whether it's current or former players, giving back to Chicago residents, particularly during the holiday season, brings them joy and the opportunity to show their appreciation for the community.
"The organization does a great job of giving us opportunities to do that week in and week out on our off days," receiver Rome Odunze said. "There's plenty of guys going out, serving the community, doing things that make them feel good and hopefully help out people around. It's our duty to do those things and I think, as a team, we do a great job."
