Saint Augustine Church in Cleveland puts on a local holiday tradition more than 40 years in the making.
Next to the Church's Hunger Center, Sister Corita Ambro with the help of community volunteers, organizes free lunches and dinners for those in need every Christmas.
Some volunteers come back year after year to donate their time, like Tony Kellers from Medina.
“You see a smile or a ‘thank you’ from someone, it's immediate,” he said. “It's not putting a check in the mail and hoping it gets to somebody.”
Other volunteers told News 5 they are helping out for the first time.
“Excited and nervous,” said Alyssa Brodsky, volunteer from Solon. “I'm not sure what to expect.”
The volunteers lined up to serve hot meals to more than 8,5oo people throughout Christmas Day. They fed the homeless, the elderly, veterans, the disabled and other people who may need a helping hand.
Father Joe McNaulty was busy preparing his Christmas sermon.
“We continue to have a constant group of people, many of whom work every day, but do not make enough to support themselves very well, and I think to me at least it’s part of our call to be able to serve that particular population in a special way,” he said.
As for those folks coming down to eat, they told News 5 it feels nice to be served a hot meal, restaurant style.
“It's beautiful,” said Johnny Hardin, who used to be homeless. “It's a blessing, it's a very good blessing just to have a meal.”
While these people may not have much, they had plenty of Christmas spirit.
“I'm feeling awesome,” said David Fowler, who lives at City Mission. “We're having a blast here. It's fun. They're feeding us perfectly.”
The St. Augustine Hunger Center also hopes to supply these people with additional food for the days ahead. The church is looking for funding to support its cause in feeding the needy during the harsh winter months.
Donations can be sent to this website: staugustine-west14.org
