New Yorkers worked together to spread holiday cheer as they pack hot meals with all the Thanksgiving essentials. Some started as early as 3 a.m.

“Knowing that we made someone else’s day a little nicer to enjoy the rest of our day,” Ken Hamm, volunteer at Citymeals on Wheels, said.

Citymeals on Wheels organizes the cooking, packing and delivery of meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers.

Volunteer Ruby Gambers says she knows the impact of the work firsthand.

“My father received Citymeals on Wheels for several years before he passed and after he passed away, I wanted to give back,” Gambers said.

Citymeals on Wheels provides meals daily, but on Thanksgiving their mission kicks into high gear. Organizers say they expect to deliver 15,000 meals across the city Thursday.

More than half the people receiving meals are older than 80 and around 60% never leave their homes, so the organization says it’s not just about a hot meal, but human interaction for those who might otherwise go without.

“Food and human connection, if you don’t have that, your physical and mental health decline,” Vivienne O’Neill, senior director of volunteer programs at Citymeals on Wheels, said.

Once the meals are boxed up, the team of volunteers line up to deliver in their own cars or by foot.

“Rain or shine got to get those meals delivered,” volunteer Jamie Rabinovich said.

Besides the effort to deliver meals, Citymeals on Wheels organizers say around 800 phone calls are being made to reach out and say happy Thanksgiving to elderly New Yorkers.

To learn more about meal delivery, head here.