MARION -- For several decades now, the Marion Ministerial Alliance has been serving up hot midday meals to anyone who needs one.
J.R. Russell is executive director at the Alliance office located at East Calvert Street.
He says that dozens of hungry guests show up every weekday at 11 a.m. for a free hot lunch.
"We serve an average around 65-to-80 dinners during this time of the year and about twice that many during the summer because the kids are all out of school," Russell said.
Connie Odum, Debbie Rozewitz and Judy Miller of Marion's First Church of God were the volunteers tasked with both preparing and serving the hot lunches on Monday and they are among the dozens of volunteers from churches and civic clubs in town that rotate fixing and serving each week.
"I've been volunteering here for around 15 years now and it's been a real blessing for me to be able do it," Odum said.
The meals are pretty tasty, too, if the opinions of diners like Tayelea Murphy, 26, are any indication.
"I eat here every day and it's always good eating," Murphy exclaimed.
That opinion was echoed by tablemate Sue Kelton, 57.
"I eat here a lot and it's a great help to me, and almost always tasty."
