DENVER (CBS4) – For the 17th year, the ChopHouse restaurant opened its doors to homeless families and some of Denver’s poorest people on Tuesday.

More than 150 volunteers, many of the ChopHouse staffers, serve about 2,500 meals. There are also some helpful items that get handed out.

“We’ve got some some essentials for them — hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks full of school supplies for the kids, we’ve got some toys, flu shots. But basically it’s the meal that we’re really focused on,” said ChopHouse General Manager Collin McDowell.

For those children who come to the restaurant with parents, Santa even stops by to spend time with them and poses for photos.