Topeka ? Utility crews are still working to restore power to some northeast Kansas residents who still don’t have electricity after a storm two weeks ago.

But the workers got a break Monday, with a Christmas Eve feast.

The dinner was at a community building on the Kickapoo Indian Reservation, which was hard-hit by outages.

Utility workers have come from several states to help restore power.

They came to dinner Monday after they finished their shifts or when they could take a break.

“These guys sure do appreciate it, and that’s our reward is seeing the big smiles,” said Gerri Clift, who served food to the workers. “They’re coming back two or three times in the line.”

Clift, who was without power for nine days, noted that the crews had continued to work despite additional sleet and snow.

“I told them they were my angels,” she said. “I just wanted to show my appreciation and let them know that they were loved and that we care and we wanted them to have a good, hot meal.”

She was among a dozen volunteers who prepared the dinner for 170 to 200 workers. Help came from the Kickapoo, Potawatomi and Iowa tribes.

The volunteers put out a full menu with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, broccoli and rice casserole, hot rolls, Indian fried bread, Indian corn and Indian greens.

“We’re all enjoying it,” said Christopher Yates, who works for a company in Brandon, Miss.

He said working 18-hour days in cold weather that he isn’t used to in Mississippi has been tiring. But, he said, people have been kind.

“The people up here in Kansas, they’ve been bringing us treats, coffee, food,” he said. “That helps out a lot.”

Yates said he hopes to be home within a week.