Two Emporia volunteers received a "Presidential" award Friday.
Marjorie Barrett and her husband Wilbur were honored for 21 years of volunteer service with Meals on Wheels with a surprise party.
They were each given President's Volunteer Service Awards and received a letter from President Obama thanking them for their work.
The couple has served the community by delivering up to 30 meals per day to needy citizens.
Friendship Center of Emporia Manager Terri Brooks explained how she wanted the couple to feel upon seeing the surprise.
"I wanted to let them know how much they are loved and how much they will be missed because they are truly, truly special people," said Brooks. "If they can do anything for anybody, they will do it."
Mr. Barrett said the Meals on Wheels program is important to him because it helps people who might otherwise have to live in nursing homes, or cannot afford regular meals.
"There's no set price on these meals. They can pay whatever they think it should be," said Barrett. "I had one woman say, well she didn't know, she thought she'd just give a quarter for it. I said well 'that's fine!'"
They are retiring from volunteering due to health concerns, but Wilbur plans to stay on as an emergency back-up driver.
The Barretts have been residents of Emporia for 64 years.
*Our news partners at KTKA 49 News contributed this report.
