SYRACUSE -- Jimmy Tortorelli knows first hand the power of the volunteers at the Rescue Mission.

As a recovering addict and alcoholic -- Tortorelli credits them with saving his life.

"I actually thought my addiction would kill me and I believe that the Rescue Mission is one of many groups that helped me in my recovery and helped save my life...so this is my way of giving back,” said Tortorelli.

Tortorelli was a volunteer Christmas morning as hundreds of hot meals served up this morning at the rescue mission in Syracuse -- during what's become a Christmas tradition.

“We're here to serve people who wouldn't otherwise have a Christmas meal -- who wouldn't otherwise have a place to be,” said Chasz Parker, executive director of the Rescue Mission.

"It's just a good thing to do, it's Christmas...you know, it's the spirit of Christmas, it's what you're supposed to do,” said Cameron Cooper, a volunteer. 

Doing what's supposed to be done is only possible with a generous community.

Like in previous years, Central New York has stepped up again this year to help the less fortunate.

“We could not do this without the help of this community,” said Parker.  “The food we're serving, the people serving the food...it's all done because people in this community care.”

And for Tortorelli -- that sense of caring and generosity has come full circle.  For him -- it's priceless.

“It's wonderful...it just makes life worth living, everybody is happy and it's great to know that you can help others,” he said.