A local school is doing its part to give back to those in need this holiday season.

Students at Cathedral Prep lined up at the cafeteria on Sunday, but it wasn't for the usual school lunch. They're serving people in need, like Yul Jackson.

"It's hard out here for a lot of people, so you know... for people to just get together and put money together, you know, to help provide for others it's nice, it's very grateful," said Jackson, of Erie.

The meal is a part of prep's annual Christmas dinner for the needy, which has been a school tradition for 26 years

"Doing this for 26 years has been a real hall mark of what we do as a school to try to give back to those in need. It's really become one of the things that we like to stand for as a school, and to try to help bring the community together even more, especially around the holidays," said Tony Parsons, teacher at Prep and faculty adviser for the Cathedral Prep Key Club.

The students in the key note club, that the event together, say giving back to the community is an eye opening experience,

"I'll definitely always remember this... that we have to give back constantly, not just during the holidays, but this should be something that we do all the time," said Michael Causgrove, president of the Cathedral Prep Key Club.

"It's a really humbling experience for all of us I think, like seeing like how blessed we all are and how nice it is to give back," added Noah Corapi, vice president of the Cathedral Prep Key Club.

Dozens of people lined up at the door of the cathedral... Not only waiting for a meal, but also to give their families a good Christmas.

"To take time out of your day, to help strangers you never knew... you know, it's the little things in life that mean a lot sometimes... it's not always gotta be the big things... it's can be the little things that mean a lot," said Luther Barnett of Erie.

With over 1000 meals prepared, the students at Cathedral Prep certainly brightened the lives of many local people in need.