Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster delivers turkeys to seniors after Thanksgiving game canceled
Turkey with a side of JuJu?
Thanksgiving turned out to be an off day for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
So, he delivered turkeys to seniors.
“Giving back to the community has always been a thing in my heart,” Smith-Schuster said.
He gathered with volunteers Thursday morning at Dive Bar & Grille on Pittsburgh’s South Side.
They set out to deliver 200 pounds of turkey, 80 pounds of vegetables and 40 pounds of stuffing.
“We used those ingredients and 300 pounds of Dive Bar & Grille’s sweat and love,” said Brian Thompson, regional executive chef of Dive Bar & Grille, who prepared the meals with 18 of the restaurant’s employees on the South Side.
Through his JuJu Foundation, he teamed with Dive Bar & Grille, ACORx Pharmacy and Ten Four Social — a Pittsburgh-based social media marketing agency — to provide 350 home-cooked Thanksgiving meals to the elderly.
“It’s really nice,” Smith-Schuster said before the first delivery to a home in Oakland. “A home-cooked, ready meal. All you gotta do is throw it in the microwave to warm it up, and, you know, you have a nice Thanksgiving.”
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster delivers meals to seniors on Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/bEClYxPvrO
— JoAnne Harrop (@joannescoop) November 26, 2020
The plan was in place sans Smith-Schuster’s appearance, as the Steelers were set to host rival Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. at Heinz Field. Once the game was postponed because some Ravens players tested positive for covid-19, the JuJu Foundation alerted Ten Four Social that he would be there.
“I love the elderly, and I want to give back,” Smith-Schuster told the Tribune-Review on Tuesday. “I want them to have Thanksgiving. I am grateful to them and the city of Pittsburgh because they have always had my back. This city gives me love.”
Julia Solomon, 70, of Mt. Oliver is ecstatic when she sees Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster at her door... he brought Thanksgiving dinner to seniors throughout the city of Pittsburgh @TeamJuJu pic.twitter.com/CEimwuM9MB
— JoAnne Harrop (@joannescoop) November 26, 2020
Shawn Nairn, owner of Carnegie-based ACORx Pharmacy, said they selected recipients based on the neediest population: seniors who would be home alone, couples who might not be going to visit family this year and individuals who physically couldn’t leave their homes.
“This is very rewarding,” said Nairn, who organized the deliveries. “You see that there are still really good people out there. I am so appreciative of my team and my family and all of the volunteers. This is what Thanksgiving is all about.”
Smith-Schuster made several stops in Oakland, South Side and Mt. Oliver. When he showed up at Julia Solomon’s door in Mt. Oliver, she was ecstatic.
“I knew about the meals coming, but I didn’t know anything about him coming,” said Solomon, who turned 70 on Saturday. “This is amazing. What a wonderful surprise.”
Her daughter, Dana Solomon, noted Smith-Schuster didn’t have to do this.
“But this is what Thanksgiving is all about,” Dana said. “This is a blessing. He made our day. He really did.”
Neighbor and friend Arana White came outside when she heard the excitement. Smith-Schuster had extra meals, so he handed two to White.
“I love JuJu,” White said. “And I love him on a whole other level now for what he did today, bringing these meals.”
Smith-Schuster is the most giving person and a “kind soul,”said Rachel Maga, founder of Ten Four Social. She helped coordinate the day among Smith-Schuster’s foundation, Dive Bar & Grille and ACORx Pharmacy.
Volunteer Kim Bruce and her children Raeghan, 10, and Wesson, 7, came by to distribute some of the meals. She owns Salud Juicery in Shadyside and teamed with Smith-Schuster for JuJu Juice, a blend of mangoes, oranges and apples, enhanced with “JuJu Power Sauce,” a fusion of turmeric and maca, which, fittingly, makes it bright yellow.
“JuJu is so likeable,” Kim Bruce said. “He is always giving back to the community. He is an amazing human being and a good role model.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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