LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Christmas spirit and unity is resonating in the Greater Lafayette area this evening.

Nearly one hundred volunteers came together to feed nearly three thousand people at the annual Friends of Downtown Christmas Lunch. The lunch was hosted in the Lafayette Jeff High School cafeteria.

Everyone in the community was invited and there was even a delivery service for people who were unable to go to the lunch to get a meal this Christmas afternoon.

Bob Crowe has been volunteering for the event for the last few years and he spoke about the true meaning of the lunch and the holiday.

“You can be any denomination, you can be any financial factor, and it doesn't matter. We just want people to come and be a part of our community program of people just being together.”

Steve Bultinck of Friends of Lafayette also spoke about all being welcomed to the lunch, but he also spoke briefly about why he looks forward to the event each year.

“We do have a lot of people within this community that are probably not as fortunate as everybody else during the holidays, and this is a way to give back to them and help them.”

The lunch has been a community Christmas tradition since 1989.