Giving back: Volunteers spend Christmas making meals, giving gifts

WEST PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - A Philadelphia ministry has been helping the underserved with meals and gifts, this Christmas.

Chosen 300 Ministries was up and early at two area locations, cooking and wrapping the last of the presents.

The inter-denominational mission is known for its work distributing more than 150,000 meals a year to the homeless of Center City, West Philadelphia and Pottstown.

FOX 29's Steve Keeley talked to executive director Brian Jenkins at the West Philadelphia location, at 40th and Lancaster Avenue.

"We have an opportunity to share with people that are down on their luck, don't have a tree, don't have anything to put under the tree," Jenkins said. "But here they can come to a place called Chosen 300 and receive an image of God's gift and be able to share the love of Christ with them so that way they can go off here with smiles on their faces and they don't have to worry about, well, 'My kids didn't get anything for Christmas.' Yes they did, because they were able to come here and get a gift."

Later, Keeley asked a man whether he wanted a meal or a gift. The man answered that he'd prefer a gift. What kind of gift? A toothbrush.

Jenkins opened that location on Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, two years ago.

Steve pointed out the mural of MLK, who spoke in 1965 at the former bank site, and surely would've appreciated.

Chosen 300 Ministries also has a location at 11th and Spring Garden streets.