Some 2500 people are being given Christmas lunch at the Auckland City Mission.
Five hundred and fifty volunteers spent the morning preparing a two course meal for the guests. They began work at 7am.
On the menu is 240kg of chicken, 240kg of ham and 240kg of potatoes.
There was a similar volume of ice cream, fruit, jelly and Christmas cake for dessert and 6000 bottles of drink.
Each of the guests also received a present.
The city mission says demand for food is at an all time high, as many people who have been made redundant or had their working hours cut, are relying on aid now too.
