Chicagoans Help Feed Homeless For Christmas

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Before a day of opening presents, a few Chicago residents got together to do some good for the city's homeless residents.

Chicago resident Donald Branch decided this Christmas -- he wanted to do more to help others.

"I used to work in this building at 233 N. Michigan years ago, and I said let's go down there and feed the homeless people that are under the building," Branch said. "I know it's a lot of people there, let's go down there."

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Brandis Friedman reports

So he told about 700 Facebook friends that he wanted to feed them.

"I am very surprised, almost in tears, it's overwhelming to say the least."

For several hours, he and a group of friends and volunteers gave out food, coats and shoes to the homeless as they passed by the corner of Michigan and South Water Street.

"It's a beautiful organization, a beautiful thing they're doing for people and helping the guys out that really need the help," said Michael Barnes, who's been homeless about a year.

Leftovers were donated to the Pacific Garden Mission afterward.

Branch is also member of Fellowship Missionary Church in Chicago.