More than 300 volunteers with Citymeals on Wheels spent Christmas morning packing and bringing meals directly to the city’s elderly and most vulnerable New Yorkers.

Starting at 3 a.m., cooks began preparing more than 25,000 holidays meals for homebound New Yorkers.

The delicious dishes included Cornish game hen, glazed carrots, wild rice and cheesecake.

“It makes me feel overwhelmed with joy,” said Jeffrey Stewart, food service manager with Citymeals on Wheels. “We get the response tomorrow, throughout the week, how wonderful and delicious the meals were, so it gives us joy.”

Beyond the delicious food, volunteers also deliver a helping of holiday cheer, all while working together as a team.

“Because we’ve done it so many years now, there’s a great sense of community with the staff and other volunteers, and that has been a great connection across the years and across the events as well,” said Sue Yeo, who has volunteered with Citymeals on Wheels for years.

All the recipients are over 60 years old and have chronic conditions such as vision loss, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. More than half are over the age of 80, nearly 20% are over 90 years old, and more than 400 have lived for over a century.

“Even if folks have family or friends, they might not be able to gather today on a holiday, which could make their social isolation and loneliness more impactful,” said Citymeals on Wheels COO Rachel Sherrow. “This is an important day to make sure we are giving back to those who helped build this city.”

Citymeals on Wheels served more than 2 million meals to some 22,000 recipients last year alone.