When you hear tickets to the Lebanese dinner are the hottest in town, don’t doubt it.

At 11:30 a.m. Monday, the line for carry out meals snaked through St. George Antiochian Ortodox Church, outside around the building and well into the parking lot.

The sheer number of cars attempting to find a parking place required a Warren County sheriff’s deputy to control traffic.

Those dining in had to be at the top of their game to snatch a seat.

The number of people willing to wait for the Lebanese delicacies was nothing short of shocking.

Kudos to the many, many volunteers who worked for weeks and weeks to organize and prepare food and order supplies and get the word out about Monday’s 56th annual dinner.

From kibbee and sambooski to cabbage rolls and baklava, Lebanese food and traditions took center stage Monday and enjoyed by about 3,000 Vicksburg residents.

What was evident was the strong sense of family, community and love displayed by members of St. George.

The precision and organization of the event showed the dedication of those involved to their church and to each other. Some church families, like that of Rhonda Wright, have been helping with the dinner for four generations.

Older generations are working to include and pass on the Lebanese traditions to younger members of the congregation.

Funds are used for a number of annual projects, like providing a food pantry, Meals on Wheels, the church’s Food for the Hungry program and sponsoring children in need in Lebanon.

Congratulations to St. George members, who nourished the body and fed the souls of many in Vicksburg Monday by sharing food from their culture.