Charlotte Residents Help The Less Fortunate On Easter

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Hundreds of people spent Easter Sunday serving lunch at the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

More than 1,200 people were fed, and more than 300 volunteers showed up to help serve the lunch.

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"Why do we do this? We want to make the love of God so real that the hurting souls that come to the Charlotte Rescue Mission can touch it," said Rev. Tony Marciano, who is the executive director of the program.

Rev. Marciano said more and more people show up every year, perhaps because of an unsteady economy.

"Things like this here is what really makes the community come together and make things happen for those that are less fortunate," said Frank Wilson, who attended the Easter lunch.

Marciano said his goal is not only to feed people, but to turn their lives around.

"It has shown me that I should just come back and give and do the same thing that the program has done for me," said Raymond Bryant, who also enjoyed a meal.

Just south of Charlotte's Rescue Mission at the Greater Newbirth Fellowship of Charlotte, Terrell Murphy, the head pastor, attended the Easter service barefoot. He said he wants to help children around the world who don't have shoes.

"I feel it was very important to make a stand for this great and awesome cause," said Murphy.

The organization is called Samaritan's Feet, and the movement is called Barefoot Sunday.

WSOC