All day long 500 mothers and kids from all over the five boroughs were bused to the banquet hall in Lower Manhattan.
Actress Susan Sarandon helped the New York City Rescue Mission serve meals while the moms and kids enjoyed a live jazz band.
"When you can recognize groups that are helping people through a bad time, it helps you to feel like maybe things aren't so out of control to give a little. So it's really very self-serving, you meet fabulous people," Sarandon said.
And before everyone left, each mother was given a gift bag filled with various toiletries.
And the kids received books, DVDs and toys.
In Jamaica, Queens more mothers and their children teamed up and volunteered their time to help Habitat for Humanity.
The volunteers painted a community center at the historic Grace Episcopal Church.
