McCary retires from Crisis Center

By Katie Cole (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center usually helps other people in need, but the center had the tables reversed when director Marilyn McCary retired this week.

“Marilyn was pretty much the heart of the center,” said Ron Lukat, a member of the center’s board of directors and search committee for a new director. “She had a compassion and love for the folks in our community who were going through difficult times.”

The center provides food, clothing, household items and, when possible, financial help to local people in need. McCary first joined the center as director about five and a half years ago.

“She changed things dramatically for the good … She has that desire to serve people who are less fortunate,” said Lonny Harden, who is also on the center’s board of directors and search committee for a new director.

McCary, who recently moved to Sylacauga, retired for her health and because she wanted to live closer to her family. She said the decision to leave the center was “hard to make” and she’ll miss working with the community to provide for struggling residents.

“Without the churches and organizations supporting us, we couldn’t have a crisis center like we have,” McCary said.

Lukat and Harden said McCary was “at the forefront” of a decision to purchase a new building for the center, which was more secure and gave them a nicer, cleaner space with more storage.

Lukat said McCary did a good job of managing the community’s need with the center’s limited resources.

Most important, said Harden, McCrary balanced the physical and spiritual needs of the people who came to the center.

“This is a ministry,” Harden said. “It’s not a job. She has the heart to serve other people.”

The center will be accepting applications for director through August. Anyone who is interested can call (256) 234-0950 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---