ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) - With the upcoming holidays, folks in the Rochester community wanted to do their part during the season of giving. Advocates for people facing homelessness handed out warm meals Monday at the site of the former Marshall Street encampment, under the South Clinton Avenue bridge. Meals provided during Monday night's event. (WROC/Ryan Hermenet.) Although the event was planned well before the recent encampment sweep, folks who made the event happen said that it sparked discussion among those who went for a meal. To them, it emphasized the importance of coming together and spreading joy to those who need it most. Capones Italian Eatery provided much of the food for Monday's event, with others bringing water, snacks and hot coffee. Some folks decided to embrace the festive spirit by dressing up. "It's a really tough situation to be homeless, and when these people can see how much the community loves and cares about them, it's going to make them feel better," one of the event organizers said. With the outpouring support to make the event possible, people who attended, like Shelly Martell, said it does not go unnoticed. "They're doing their part, they're pitching in," Martell said. "You can tell it's from the heart". Recovery All Ways (RAW) was one of the organizations that helped throughout the evening. Program Director Joshua Sheridan, who said he too was homeless at one point, explained what he sees as the bigger picture of events like these. "How many times do you pull up to a red light and you see somebody sitting there hanging a sign and you do your best to you know not make eye contact with them?" Sheridan said. "We try see you as a person, make eye contact, give you a hug and show you some love. That goes a really long way." Helping the Homeless aims to hold more events like these for Rochester's homeless community in the future, working with RAW and other local advocates.