One Bridgeport deli made sure people in need had a meal on Christmas Eve.

Brooklawn Grocery and Deli gave away free breakfast Monday as a way to pay it forward.

Some of their customers were also credited with donating money to the cause.

The deli says the generous patrons wanted to remain anonymous.

"It was just a shock to us that someone would be so giving and did not want anyone to know who he was,” says the deli’s co-owner Dalia Ghossaini. “He almost had tears in his eyes and it got us choked up to see someone who just wanted to give something back."

This is the first year the deli has provided free meals on Christmas Eve.  They say they hope to make it an annual tradition.