A west coast community came together to help around 80 people who spent their Christmas Day waiting for a plane due to high winds.

A West Jet flight from Toronto to St. John’s was diverted to Deer Lake early Wednesday morning, sending 180 passengers to the town, and even ruining some of their Christmas plans.

Around 100 of those passengers were lucky enough to get a flight to St. John’s at 11:10 a.m. but the rest had to stay put in Deer Lake at the Holiday Inn.

Passengers were satisfied with the accommodations but there was just one problem. With it being Christmas Day, all stores and restaurants were closed so the people had no way of getting anything to eat.

After reading about the flight on social media, the Deer Lake Salvation Army pulled together and organized a team of volunteers to bring Christmas supper to the hotel.

Major Jeff Howard with the Deer Lake Salvation Army says they were able to go around the town and gather food items to create a big pot luck in the hotel lobby. Some people made sandwiches and others brought leftovers from their own festive dinners.

He says it may not have happened like that in another place besides Newfoundland and Labrador.

Howard believes the efforts are just part of the culture in the province. Community members heard about the need and ran to it without even thinking twice.

He says a lot of people made themselves available to help in any way. A group even got together and lined up to provide free rides to the airport after the meal.

There was a huge outpouring of support from Deer Lake but he says that it was not surprising to them because their community is always like that. Howard has witnessed their love and support before.

The passengers were able to depart at around 9 p.m.