Inside the Refreshing Spring Church in Schenectady, volunteers with Raindrops Closet are busy preparing hot meals. The nonprofit organization is filling up 100 containers of food that will later be delivered to homeless families.

"We wanted this year to focus more on the homeless families and the shelters because we know there are a lot of children," said Sherain Rivera, the founder and president of the organization. 

In past years, she usually hosts a buffet dinner. This year, Rivera is hitting the road to better reach families.

"We wanted to bring it to them just in case they couldn't get to us because a lot of them don't have cars, and it's very cold outside," Rivera said.

After loading the cars with the meals, toys, and blankets, volunteers headed out. The group stopped at several hotels in Schenectady where these families are temporarily living at.

This is the fifth year Rivera has done this. She does this every Christmas, because Rivera used to be one of these families. 

"We didn't have a great Christmas for me and my children," Rivera said.

In 2014, Rivera and her children were homeless for about a year. As soon as they were able to get back on their feet, Rivera was ready to give back. 

"I didn't want to see that happen for anybody else, and that's why that first year we came out and said, 'hey, let's do a party, get some toys for the families who are really in need,' " Rivera said. 

This came be a tough time of year for a lot of people. But Rivera and her organization hopes a hot meal and gifts can go a long way.