The 3 O'clock Project is continuing its mission to keep children fed, even after the official end of the school year.
In their partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs, that work is taking them across Acadiana.
It started with just meals being served in Lafayette, but now there is distribution weekly throughout Acadiana.
Organizers says sites in Lafayette. Iberia, St. Landry, and St. Martin have distributed over 750,000 meals combined since early April.
For meal distributions, volunteers start preparing before families arrive. They get masks ready and start putting out signs for designated parking.
Once families start arriving, staff will walk around and ask how many children under the age of 18 are in the household, put a post-it note on the car so they know exactly how many boxes they're loading in. Families pull up and volunteers load the items in their car and they're on their way.
"I thought this was a good way to give back," said Kendiex White.
For volunteers like Kendriex White, helping the Boys and Girls Club distribute meals is her way of giving back organization for taking care of her daughter during the school year.
"During this time I think that my greatest joy has just being able to come out and just help wherever they need me," said White.
"The need here in St. Landry Parish is great," said Loren Carriere.
Hope For Opelousas executive director, Loren Carriere says the parish has been heavily impacted by the pandemic and wants to do its part in helping out.
"We wanna have every opportunity for families that have needs, food needs especially to be able to have an avenue like this, so I'm just pumped to come and lend a hand," said Carriere.
"It might get a little hectic in the moment but more than anything they walk away with a tremendous amount of gratitude to be able to be apart of this process to give back to those in their community," said 3 O'clock Project executive director, Missy Andrade.
3 O'clock Project will continue to give out meals throughout the community but they are confirming more details if dates do change.
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