NILES — Mount Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Bryant Bacon served in the U.S. military. He knows firsthand the struggles some former soldiers face and the sacrifices they made.

So, the church’s ministry will host an uplifting luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, at its 601 Ferry St. location.

It is the fourth year Mount Calvary has hosted Lifting Up Veterans Everywhere Luncheon, and organizers Jeanette Pearson and Ylonda Scott hope to expand the event beyond food, fellowship and Bacon’s words of encouragement and observations.

In the lobby of Mount Calvary, under light tinted yellow windows, is a table featuring photos and short biographies of veterans. Some are family members of congregation members. Others are members themselves.

Pearson and Scott collected photos and bios last year. This year, they hope to fill four tables for the luncheon in the church’s basement with photos provided by community members. The tributes are due Saturday, Nov. 9 at the church.

“It’s just something that we want to do for the veterans,” Pearson said. “It’s not about us. It’s about supporting them and thanking them for the services they have provided for us.”

Scott said her ministry wanted to thank and support military families, too.

“You have to deal with the separation, but you also have to deal the transitioning back to civilization,” she said. “There’s a lot that they’re sacrificing, too, when their family member goes away.”

Even after the transition, coping with years of upheaval and war can be difficult to deal with for both military members and their families, immediate or extended.

The luncheon offers people a chance for veteran families to see appreciation from civilians, Bacon said.

After a lunch for veterans at noon — featuring sandwiches, soups and desserts — Bacon will lead attendees in recognizing those who served and their families. Then, he will offer words of encouragement and observation.

Recognizing that more area churches are also starting to create veteran programming, Pearson said the ministry has invited other Niles places of worship to join them next Monday.

The ministry is also inviting active law enforcement, active first responders, Fraternal Order of Police members and people preparing to join the military from the area.

Mount Calvary will collect donations at and before the event through its Cash App account, cashapp-$thehillniles, to fund next year’s luncheon.