Above, kitchen coordinator Ray Christy leads the volunteer operations to prepare Christmas meals at First United Methodist Church in Butler on Friday. Volunteers delivered more than 600 meals on Christmas, and more were available for pickup. “This is our biggest year so far,” Christy said. “It's an amazing feat.”Left, Isabella Vivirito, 9, helps prepare bags for the Christmas meals.

On Friday, preparations were in full swing for First United Methodist Church's annual Christmas Day dinner, which is a 51-year tradition.

Volunteers busily packed gift bags for families to receive along with their meal of ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, cookies and more.

The past two years in a pandemic has meant the meal was offered for takeout or delivery, but that didn't stop volunteers from remembering the purpose of the dinner.

“When the dinner was initiated, it was to get people out of their homes who'd otherwise be alone,” said Cindy Ford, director of communications at the church. “The initial reason is so no one is alone on Christmas.”

Left, Isabella Vivirito, 9, helps prepare bags for the Christmas meals.

Tina Davey helps prepare ham for the over 600 meals to be delivered on Christmas at First United Methodist Church in Butler, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. "We're making this a Christmas Eve tradition," said Davey. "It's just a great cause."

Ryan Davey prepares ham for the meals to be delivered on Christmas at First United Methodist Church in Butler, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. The meals included ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cookies, and juice.