MARIETTA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
MUST Ministries has kicked off its summer lunch program for the 17th year in Marietta.
The faith-based nonprofit delivers lunches to kids who might otherwise not have lunch during the summer months. Many of the kids are on a free or reduced lunch program during the school year. The program is dependent on volunteers and donations.
"We check the bags, put the sandwiches in them, put them in boxes of 25," said volunteer Teresa Camp.
They know each lunch they pack will go to a child who appreciates it. Camp, a teacher, knows firsthand.
"Most of them are on free and reduced lunch at school and this is a way to provide a lunch that they don't get at school while they're out of school," said Camp.
The MUST Ministries volunteers pack the vans and get ready to head out on their routes. The volunteers get a big welcome when they arrive. The kids rush to get in line.
Mom Stephanie Bautista is grateful for the help.
"Whenever you don't have a whole lot of money and you're waiting for your food stamps or something, it's like a supplement for my children and for other children," said Bautista.
Karla Melo said her sack lunch is often her first meal of the day.
"Sometimes there's problems with economics and my parents sometimes cannot get food," said 12-year-old Melo.
Summer lunch manager Paula Rigsby admits it's hard to think about a child going hungry. That's why MUST Ministries has continued the program into its 17th year. Each year the need grows. They serve 2,500 lunches per day to six metro Atlanta counties.
"It's very sad to know there's that many children - probably a lot more than we just don't know about," said Rigsby.
"I thank them for coming because sometimes there's nothing to eat in the morning and this is a good thing," said Melo.
MUST Ministries still needs help. They are looking for people to make the lunches and to pack and deliver them. Right now they make 2,500 sack lunches per day, but they think the need is 3,200 lunches per day.
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MUST Ministries volunteers hand out lunches
