Colorado Springs Salvation Army serves over 2,000 meals Christmas Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Volunteers with the Salvation Army spent their Christmas serving meals to the people who need it most.

The volunteers served up an estimated 2,200 meals at locations in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Woodland Park and Manitou Springs.

Captain Doug Hanson of the Salvation Army says they plated 700 pounds of ham alone this year.

The Christmas lunches were provided courtesy of a grant from Safeway and generous donations made by the community.

However, the Salvation Army's mission Christmas Day is about much more than just food, Hanson says.

"We're hoping to create more than just a meal, but an environment where people are feeling welcome and festive, and it feels more like Christmas," he said.

Colorado Springs community member Anna Rosa says the Salvation Army is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

“I want to thank God for the Salvation Army," she said. "The Salvation Army is like family to me, they provide everything."

The total cost of the meals served Christmas day was $5,000 -- but the feeling it gave the community was priceless.

"It's home. They make you feel like home," said Rosa.