Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner spend Thanksgiving together with children

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are giving back this holiday season.

The former couple spent Thanksgiving volunteering and distributing free meals to the Los Angeles homeless community while attending homeless shelter The Midnight Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Street Fair.

Affleck and Garner, both 52, were joined at the event by their three children – Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15 and Samuel, 12. A source told PEOPLE of the outing: “They really enjoy giving back to their community and appreciating time together as a family.”

Every Thanksgiving, the nonprofit “hosts a celebration for thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on Skid Row,” its website says, adding that the event includes a holiday meal and live entertainment.

Affleck and Garner – who separated in 2015 after 10 years of marriage before finalizing their divorce three years later – appeared in good spirits as they met with the organization’s CEO, David Prentice, for a photo shared on Instagram.

The shelter captioned the post, “Today we had the honor of welcoming Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner to The Midnight Mission for Thanksgiving! Their kindness, warmth and dedication have brought so much joy to our Skid Row community.”

“Thank you, Ben and Jennifer, for serving meals and sharing smiles on this special day. “Your compassion reminds us all of the true meaning of Thanksgiving – coming together to support one another,” the message continued.

Affleck and Garner wore matching white Midnight Mission aprons in a snap. They were also pictured alongside other volunteers, including Sarah Paulson, Sasha Farber and Jenn Tran, in additional social media images shared on the nonprofit’s Instagram Stories.

This is definitely not the first time Affleck has shown his support for The Midnight Mission. The actor first learned about the organization, which has existed since 1914, from a parent at one of his children’s schools and has supported its efforts for years.

“I’ve found that giving other people a little time helps me a lot. I don’t know if it helps them or not, but I know it helps me,” Affleck told PEOPLE in 2020.

The Midnight Mission serves all those in need through a range of programs focused on education, recovery and workforce development.

Affleck added, “It’s easy to throw up your hands and say there’s nothing you can do.”

“But the truth is that there are people who want to improve their lives, who have difficulties, who need help and who can be helped if you do just a little, give a little money or a little time. It’s just a really powerful thing to connect with people,” he said.

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The Oscar winner is currently in the middle of filming his upcoming film REST IN PEACE with pal Matt Damon, but made sure to take a break to celebrate Thanksgiving with his kids.

A source told PEOPLE earlier this week, “He’s very happy with life. He likes to work. He’s going to spend Thanksgiving with his kids.”

This was Affleck’s first Thanksgiving since his wife Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce in August, setting their separation date as April 26 after less than two years of marriage.