Giving back to those who serve

Volunteers from nine local churches prepared and distributed more than 700 meals to all city of Ruston and Lincoln Parish employees Friday. Each worker received a red beans and rice meal, a gift card to a local restaurant and a hand-written note of appreciation from a volunteer.

Pictured at top, volunteers set up a pickup station in the Ruston Civic Center parking lot for city employees to receive their meals. Pictured at bottom, crowds of volunteers formed lines to assemble each meal piece by piece.

The churches involved were The Bridge Community Church, Calvary Baptist Church, Cook Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Ruston, LifeChurch.LA, The Springs, Temple Baptist Church and Zion Traveler Baptist Church.