With the help of her pastor, David Jackson, the teacher and other church members launched Mary’s Lunchbox in 2010, a program sponsored by the Meadowview United Methodist Church to help fight poverty in the community. Each Friday at the school, bags of non-perishable foods are discreetly placed in children’s book bags for them to take home on the weekends.

To give parents the opportunity to sign up, notes are sent home at the beginning of the school year, and returned to the students’ teachers.

Food is purchased locally, divided into bags at the church, and delivered to the school, where teachers receive the food for their students. Student volunteers from Emory & Henry College, in addition to members of the church, pack food bags after a worship service once each month.