Hundreds volunteer for Hosea Feed the Hungry event

ATLANTA — Hundreds of volunteers spent Christmas Eve at the Dekalb County Jail's industrial sized kitchen, helping to cook meals for Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless annual Christmas event.

"I've been a volunteer for 32 years, I've never missed a Thanksgiving or Christmas in 32 years," said volunteer Nick Johnson.

The group is helping to prepare 700 turkeys, 2,000 pounds of chicken, 3,000 cans of veggies and much more. The annual event is hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center on Christmas Day, and plans to feed about 6,500 people in need. They also plan to deliver 4,500 other meals to seniors, and other who cannot make it to the event.

Elizabeth Omilami, CEO, Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless, said donations are down about 30 percent since last year.

"Sixty eight percent of our donations come from individuals. I'm looking at which one of those individuals are no longer employed that were employed," Omiliami said.

"We need to get to the point where corporations understand that we stabilize families, and stable families create stable communities," Omiliami said.

In addition to a meal, participants can also get a haircut, a shower and a wellness checkup.

"I met Hosea a long time ago, and he turned my life around," said Johnson.

The meal will begin Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center.

WSBTV