A local boy scout troop helped spread some holiday cheer to the homeless in San Jose on Christmas Eve.

Campbell’s Boy Scout Troop 330 spent Christmas Eve handing out used and new jackets to homeless in St. James Park in downtown San Jose. This was the second year the troop has handed out necessities to homeless, according to Angela Gorospe, mother of a scout.

The troop handed out nearly 150 jackets, along with socks, gloves and hats to homeless. Additional jackets came from sponsors.

Troop 330 gathered jackets and other articles of clothing from churches, groups and individuals for three months. Before handing out jackets scouts organized them by size and gender.

“Last year the scouts gave individual bags with toiletries and socks to homeless,” Gorospe said, adding the troop joined the annual Lend a Helping Hand event.

The event is held by a group of food truck owners. This is the third year they have organized trucks to hand out free meals.

Three years ago Porky’s SJ food truck owner Hao Thai asked fellow truck food owners and operators if they’d help feed homeless.

“He’s the one who invited us to join,” Gorospe said.

In 2015, Gorospe, also a food truck owner, made a presentation to her son’s troop, asking if they’d like to participate in an annual charity event.

“We started with just food trucks three years ago, and it’s grown ever since,” Gorospe said.

This year an estimated 500 meals were served by five food trucks. Gorospe said her truck ran out of meals within 20 minutes. The event was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s a really humbling experience,” Gorospe said. “We get a lot of people who are down and out. We also get very low-income individuals and elderly people who are lonely during the holidays.”

Gorospe said next year the troops and food truck owners will be out at the park rain or shine, helping those in need.

Visit troop330.org