Jen & Ben's FRESH START

Nine years after ending their decade-long marriage, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner could be on a path to a second chance at love!

A Good Place "Ben is happier and healthier than he's ever been," says a source, "and the kids just love having their mom and dad together again, especially over the holidays."

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner began their Thanksgiving Day side by side, giving back. Wearing matching aprons, hairnets and gloves, the former couple spent three hours in sync, their connection easy and effortless as they helped Midnight Mission serve free meals to homeless people in downtown LA's skid row community on Nov. 28. The organization later posted a picture of the pair on social media, praising them for "their kindness, warmth and dedication" and desire to shine a light on the true meaning of the holiday: "coming together to support one another." Lately, they've been doing a lot of that themselves. Post-volunteering, the Oscar winner joined the Deadpool & Wolverine actress and their children Violet, 19, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12 for a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner at Jen's place.

Holiday Outing
Ben, Jen and their children spent the first part of Thanksgiving Day feeding the homeless at LA's Midnight Mission before gathering at Jen's house to share a meal together.

In recent months, the exes have also spent time together vacationing in Japan during the kids' summer break, celebrating Ben's 52nd birthday, and dropping Violet off at Yale University to begin her freshman year of college. In June, Jen was even seen letting herself into Ben's new home after he moved out of the mansion he shared with his second wife, Jennifer Lopez, 55, following their April separation.

"Ben and Jen are closer than ever," confirms a source. "They've developed a mutual respect and a deeper level of friendship they didn't have before. It has some friends asking if they could be on their way to getting back together."