Christmas Eve Volunteers Spreading Holiday Cheer - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

As most are eating their Christmas Eve dinner, and preparing for guests on Christmas day, many are willing to give up their time to share the Christmas spirit with those who may not have anyone.

"We started the dressing at 8 o'clock this morning, started cutting the onions and the celery."

Before many of us were out of bed this Christmas Eve, those like Chuck Klinkhammer and Ken Barnes were hard at work prepping the 42nd annual turkey dinner at nativity catholic church.

"At the moment, I'm just making a sample of some gravy that we'll be making later for today."

This year a new recipe, to make the dinner even more enjoyable.

"Years ago they used to get whole turkeys, so they'd use the stock from turkeys that were delivered."

But it's not the food that pulls everyone together each year, rather it's what's in the  hearts of the people that prepare the meal.

"The church was just looking for volunteers, and my wife felt that I'd be a good volunteer in the kitchen, since I like to cook."

"If we're not out of town, we like to come over and help. My kids that are around helping. My sons are here. My wife is here. My daughter is here."

This volunteer effort will feed nearly 800 sit down meals by day's end.

"There's a lot of people that don't have someone to cook them dinner and help them out."

"It gives you a good feeling."

It's one that requires long hours, but one many across the community have come to appreciate. The left-overs from the meal will be sent to the YWCA shelter to help out even more people.