New York's homeless get new coats, and a visit from Archbishop Egan

The New York City Rescue Mission's 12th annual New York Cares Coat Drive was a success

In this story: Shelter serves turkey dinners Homeless given coats RELATED STORIES, SITES

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Homeless people got a boost in New York City on Christmas Day, receiving coats at one facility for the homeless and a visit at another by Archbishop Edward Egan.

And in Los Angeles, Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds were among celebrities who helped serve dinner to the homeless at the Midnight Mission.

Egan stopped by the Church of St. Francis Xavier's soup kitchen to greet volunteers, serve food and sit and talk with some of the city's homeless for a while.

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Shelter serves turkey dinners

The soup kitchen served up a turkey dinner on tables adorned with baskets of bread and fruit.

Most volunteers were parishioners from St. Francis Xavier, but others came from New York Cares and a local synagogue.

The meal lasted several hours and included a toast, a blessing and a visit from Santa. He handed out gifts such as scarves and hats, said Leslie Woo, a pastoral associate at St. Francis Xavier.

Spirits among the homeless appeared to be high. One homeless person described the meal as "excellent."

Volunteer Claire Toise, asked why she spent her Christmas at the shelter, said simply: "I'm around food and people; you can't beat that."

Homeless given coats

At the New York City Rescue Mission in lower Manhattan, more than 75 homeless men received warm winter coats, courtesy of New York Cares Coat Drive. It was the 12th annual coat drive for the non-profit volunteer group.

"We collect coats from December 1st through December 31st every year, and this year our goal is to collect 85,000 coats," said Ann Coy, Director of Development for New York Cares.

Coats are distributed at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, community organizations and other facilities in the New York City area.

Volunteers for New York Cares helped the homeless men choose from hundreds of coats piled on the tables.

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