ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - A Roanoke couple is honored for their volunteer service to the Roanoke Rescue Mission.
Mission leaders recently recognized the 5,000 volunteers who gave more than 80,000 hours in 2016.
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Out of the thousands who give time and energy, Tom and Grace Mercer rise to the top.
The Atlanta couple chose to move to Roanoke in 2016 after touring the mission just one time and were shocked when they were given the Angel Award.
"When they got here they just really felt that they saw God at work, they felt God at work and they really liked what we do and the mission of what we stand for," explained Kim Gembala, Chief Administrative Officer.
"We felt really blessed. We felt honored and actually I got a tear in my eye because it was emotional to realize that they cared and they recognized us," said Tom Mercer.
The Mercers say their broken pasts help them relate to mission residents and they enjoy working with children the most.