PHOENIX -- Coyotes players Paul Bissonnette, Lauri Korpikoski, Taylor Pyatt and Wojtek Wolski spent part of their holiday serving meals to and mingling with homeless people who deal with hunger and hardship on a daily basis.

Lauri Korpikoski, Wojtek Wolski and Taylor Pyatt mingle with guests at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix on Thursday. Photo by Norm Hall.

The four players joined other current and former Valley-based athletes as volunteers at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix for about two hours on Thursday morning.

Former NFL kicker Nick Lowery emceed the event, which featured live music and a hearty turkey meal for hundreds of people. Lowery introduced the Coyotes players one by one and each one spoke to the crowd for several moments.

"It just makes you feel good inside to give back to people," Bissonnette told phoenixcoyotes.com as the event winded down. "That's why I'm here. It feels good to help out a good cause so hey, let's do it... It's a bad economy these days and it's unfortunate and it's sad. I just look at it as that could be me some day and how would I want people to treat me. So, I pay it forward because you never know."

About 65 volunteers, including the four Coyotes players, took time out of their day to help a good cause, spread some cheer and make some new friends.

Paul Bissonnette helps serve food at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix on Thursday. Photo by Norm Hall.

"We have so many wonderful volunteers here today," said Jerry Castro, the organization's Manager of Food Services and Dining Rooms. "That's so beautiful because not only are they helping to serve meals to our guests but they are at the tables visiting and signing autographs."

Castro said many of the guests were hockey fans.

"Everyone's been looking forward to this day, and when I told them we had the Phoenix Coyotes coming they were so happy," he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check back to phoenixcoyotes.com soon to watch a video of this event.