COVINGTON, Ky. -- Hundreds of volunteers in Covington helped provide meals for families in need Monday.
It was the 30th year that Mental Health America hosted a Christmas dinner.
More than 2,000 people came out for a hot Christmas meal. Among them was Matthew McDonald, who wanted to make his daughter's first Christmas a great one.
"It was my goal this year to make sure she was happy," he said.
But it's been a hard holiday season. McDonald hasn't been able to find work, and now there's more financial pressure with a second baby on the way.
"It's costly -- very costly -- diapers and all that stuff," McDonald said.
That's why the event meant so much to him. It was all possible because more than 400 people volunteered their time to cook and serve.
And McDonald got just what he wanted: a smile on his daughter's face.
"It means everything," McDonald said.
McDonald said they hope to make the event a tradition for their family, but to come as volunteers next year.
