The Scotland County Ministerial Alliance has selected four individuals in the community to receive Community Service Awards in honor of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. The presentation will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. at Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Laurinburg.

"Each year we present awards to persons who have given so much to the community, the unsung heroes who make a difference in people's lives," Alliance President the Rev. George Ellis said. "We appreciate their contributions and want to thank them for their efforts."

Award recipients for this year are retired United Methodist Minister Bill Wells; Delores Alston, the "Thanksgiving Lady" who provides meals to those in need on the fourth Thursday of each November; Eutha Tart, director of the Christmas Cheer program at Church Community Services; and the Rev. Reuben Battle, assistant minister at Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Ministerial Alliance Financial Secretary and Program Planning Committee Member the Rev. Essie Davis expressed happiness with this year's choices.

"I feel really good about these four receiving the awards," Davis said. "All exemplify the values and ideas of Martin Luther King Jr. in their own ways."

Ellis believes the timing is perfect to recognize the contributions of the four nominees.

"What better time to recognize community advocates who give of themselves so unselfishly than during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday," Ellis said. "These four have touched all of us with their passion for the community and their tireless labor. We applaud their efforts."