LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — For nearly two decades, a local family has spent Christmas Eve giving back to the community.
The Murphy family purchases, prepares and serves a free Christmas Eve lunch each year at Our Daily Bread. The meal is open to anyone, with no qualifications required. Dan Murphy said the tradition began nearly 19 years ago, rooted in faith and a belief that anyone could someday need help.
“It’s easy to just be so wrapped up in yourself,” Murphy said. “But our family has always known that it’s not about you. It’s never been about you, and it’ll never be about you. It’s always about Jesus and somebody else. Anybody is just a paycheck or two, or an accident or something, away from eating here ourselves.”
Randy Kimple, director of Our Daily Bread, said this year marked his 12th year working with the Murphy family on the event.
“We look forward to it every year,” Kimple said. “They’re a humble family. They don’t come here to say, ‘Look what we’re doing’ or anything. They just come here to serve.”
This year, the Murphy family served about 150 meals, continuing their annual Christmas Eve tradition of giving.
