The churches around here have a food bank and stuff, I guess these dinners are a way to raise money for that.
I know the Elks Lodge also had weekly meals to raise money for a college scholarship.
Personally I trust the cooks at the local churches more than those at McD’s. I am on a diet and rarely have eaten out in the past few months, when I do it is the local church fish fry, they have the best cole slaw and hush puppies going and the prices and company are much better.