Hot meals provided to homeless across Chicago area

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Across the Chicago area, people reached out and provided a meal to those who needed one this Thanksgiving.

For the first time in Chicago, Archbishop Blase Cupich served Thanksgiving dinner to homeless families .

He was among more than a dozen volunteers Thursday at the 11th annual Catholic Charities Thanksgiving dinner in the city's River North neighborhood.

After meeting with families, Archbishop Cupich talked about the importance of helping those who are less fortunate.

"A lot of these people grew up in homes and families where we celebrate it every day, and maybe their distance from their family now or they don't have the opportunity to be together with their families so we need to to provide that experience of a family," Cupich said.

Along with serving 150 guests on Thursday, volunteers also delivered dozens of thanksgiving dinners to people in the community.

Senator Mark Kirk and Governor-elect Bruce Rauner joined volunteers at A Safe Haven Foundation headquarters in the Lawndale neighborhood.

Rauner and his wife Diana had fun putting on their hairnets before helping to serve hundreds of meals prepared by the Safe Haven's job training program.

In the western suburbs, the Salvation Army hosted a holiday feast at Lazarus House. It's a tradition that dates back to 1998, and as many as 400 people attend each year.

At New Mount Pilgrim Church on Chicago's West Side, there wasn't just food. The church also gave away clothes, shoes and toys for those in need.