The Opportunity Council’s Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn raised more than $24,000 this year to support free meal service to those in need.

The Dine Out event was held May 3, when 42 local restaurants donated 20 percent of the day’s sales to the Maple Alley Inn program.

The funds raised will provide hot meals served at Faith Lutheran Church on McLeod Road in Bellingham. They will also allow the program to expand, offering an additional meal at Maple Valley Café, which serves breakfast at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

For more information on The Maple Valley Inn program or the Opportunity Council, visit www.oppco.org or call 360-734-5121.