Red Andrews Christmas Dinner draws thousands to Oklahoma City despite wintry weather

Thompson's two boys, Cody, 8, and Thomas, 9, both got to choose a present to play with on Christmas Day. Cody received a basketball while Thomas decided to go with a robot toy that shoots rockets from its hand.

Thompson said she is grateful for an event like the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner, which has been providing the less fortunate with a hot meal and children with Christmas presents for the past 67 years.

“For us, this is our Christmas,” Thompson said. “The chance to get a good dinner and for my boys to get a present, it's more than I could ask for.”

More than 1,000 people lined the halls before the dinner officially started at 8:45 a.m. Christmas morning. Some volunteers had been there since the wee hours preparing enough turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie for thousands, and sorting through the mountainous pile of presents for the children.

‘Giving back'

Brother and sister, Billy and Meghin Danna, said they gave up their Christmas morning to volunteer at the dinner because it felt like the right thing to do.

“We just felt like giving back,” Billy Danna said. “Around this time of year, you're definitely more aware of what you have, so it's nice giving back to others who might not have as much.”