Hundreds of volunteers ready to serve Christmas dinner at the Rescue Mission in Utica

While some of you may have been cooking Christmas dinner all day, so have the volunteers at the Rescue Mission in Utica.

But, they started preparing last week to feed up to 1,200 meals today.

The Rescue Mission in Utica was ready to serve and deliver hot meals on this Christmas Day to hundreds of people in the community. But, the organization says they wouldn't have been able to do so without the help of their volunteers.

 "It's the people that are coming in to volunteer. Many of them are teaching their families that this is what we really want to teach you on Christmas. That is what really Christmas is all about," said Executive Director, Rev. Bill Dodge.

About 200 volunteers all throughout Central New York spent their Christmas serving others.

"It's about giving this year for me, not getting. And for all the gratitude I have," said Renee Heiland.

"We just feel it's good to give to other people and to meet other people," explained Bonnie Muffett.

For these volunteers, it's their first time helping out at the Rescue Mission in Utica. But, for others, serving during the holidays has become a family tradition.

"Whenever we always do it I like to have the smiles on peoples face and I like to see how happy they are," said Riley Mae Sanner.

9-year-old Riley has been volunteering for four years with her entire family.

It's a similar story for 16-year-old Raeven who has been helping out with her dad since she was 8-years-old.

"I just want to teach my daughter it's not about us. It's about giving back. Sometimes we have to blow out our own candles so that somebody's light can shine. And just to see the smiles on their face. It's awesome," said Frank Drayton.

These volunteers hope their children can keep up this family tradition for years to come.