PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Christmas dinner is a tradition for many families, but it’s something others wouldn’t be able to enjoy without the generosity of strangers.

Today, local volunteers took time out from their own Christmas to serve food to hundreds.

A lot of love went into the meal.

“You see the need and then you see the community that’s here to serve them. That’s a pretty amazing thing,” Raimy Rubin said.

At the Rainbow Kitchen, volunteers opened the doors to the community like normal. However, holiday a feast was served and volunteers with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh joined the men and women from the community as they waited for their meal.

Sharing only a few hours of their time helped to make Christmas special for others.

“It’s a special day for them because they have no one to celebrate with. They’re alone. They don’t have family. We do something a little nicer than we normally do. So, it makes you feel good. And it’s good for them. It makes them feel like they’re not alone in the world,” Stanley Maharam said.

The Salvation Army had its own army of volunteers dishing out all the holiday fixings. At the Westin in downtown Pittsburgh, 75 volunteers fed hundreds in the community.

“One of the workers came over and asked me if I wanted some water. And I had to go find her and tell her I wasn’t being rude. I just broke down in tears. It wasn’t tears of sadness. It was tears of joy because this is awesome,” Fae Rae said.

Of the volunteers, were 11-year-old Justin and 9-year-old Jordin. They helped seat guests and get them their dinner. Both wanted to spend their Christmas serving the community.

“I just wanted to give to a little bit of people for some that don’t really have that much of a home,” Jordin said.

“To see all these people down here on Christmas helping people that are homeless and that are helpless and people that are really, really in need and don’t have, that’s beautiful,” Rae said.

One woman came to get a hot meal said she was so touched by the generosity, that once she’s back on her feet, she hopes to return as a volunteer.

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