By partnering with individuals and groups in the community, food and other necessities are donated and delivered to those who are isolated due to poverty, in targeted neighborhoods where a lack of transportation severely limits access to other resources. What began as a summer lunch program quickly became a year round outpouring of love. There are times that the meals we provide will be the only food that these families will eat that day.
In addition to summer food bags, we also provide household items, jackets, diapers, school supplies, books, food boxes, Easter Baskets, Thanksgiving meals and a free Christmas Shoppe. The most extraordinary thing about this program is the relationships that develop and the sharing that occurs between everyone involved.
ON SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH WE WILL BE TAKING THE HOPE OF EASTER AND THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST INTO 4 IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP LOAD UP 2 TRUCKS WITH FOOD AND EASTER BASKETS, AND THEN ANOTHER SET OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP DELIVER THE FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO THESE FOOD DESERT AREAS.
WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THESE FAMILIES WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO EAT DURING THE FOLLOWING SPRING BREAK WEEK WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. CHECK OUT THE SIGN UP FOR MORE INFORMATION!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040448AEAB2CA02-48521196-easter
WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS!
We have volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities every week! Volunteer with your family, with a friend, with a group, or just show up and meet some new friends!
We need volunteers every week during weekdays and evenings! We also have special opportunities on some weekends.
All ages are welcome, kids must bring a parent.
Click on the sign up link for more information.
Click on picture above for volunteer sign up
The days and weeks after each holiday is the best time to shop for HUGE clearance savings and help us to stock up! As Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Dollar General, Kohls, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and other stores clear their holiday shelves to make room for other items, please consider buying items to donate to Lunches of Love. If you see a great deal (75 - 90% off), grab it, if you wait, it will be gone.
DROP OFF DONATIONS AT MOUNTAIN PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1405 ROCKBRIDGE ROAD, STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
FAMILY LIFE CENTER (use Popular Drive Entrance): Sundays 9:30 - Noon, Wednesdays 5-6:30pm, Thursdays 6:30 - 8pm, 24 hour drop box by entrance
OFFICE AREA (use Pine Circle Entrance): Monday - Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
THANK YOU TO EMPIRE HEATING AND AIR AND EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR LUNCHES OF LOVE! THE $1000 GRAND PRIZE WAS USED TO PURCHASE THANKSGIVING TURKEYS FOR OUR 300 LUNCHES OF LOVE FAMILIES!
2023: Summer #11
Eleven years ago, as plans were being made for the first summer Lunches of Love delivery, a lot of time and preparation went into choosing specific neighborhoods with a high percentage of food insecurity. These neighborhoods are also unique due to the lack of private transportation and limited access to grocery stores. As we have gotten to know the residents, we have met LOTS of kids! And LOTS of families! We have also met many elderly adults, as well as those with chronic health issues.
During the summer of 2023, volunteers loaded up a 26 foot U-haul truck with 250 bags of nonperishable food each Monday night. A unique special delivery item was also included each week. This summer we took out laundry detergent, diapers, pots and pans, birthday cake kits, books, crafts for the kids, balls, and school supplies.
(TO READ MORE CLICK HERE)
2022 end of year report
It takes me days to write up the year end report. I go through a stack of paper 8” high, just to try to figure out the numbers from Christmas. It takes so long because when we are delivering Christmas gifts and food and toiletries day after day, we are doing our best to help as many people as we can in the midst of chaos! The registration forms help us to know how to serve each family, but in the end, the paperwork is just a tool that is quickly forgotten. By the end of each day we are exhausted. There is barely enough time to regroup before we go out again the next day. To be honest, I hate going through the stacks of papers trying to check the registration numbers and adding everything up. I work painstakingly to try to figure out why one row or column doesn’t add up correctly, or which apartment number is actually the correct one for each family. The “numbers” take a long time. Sometimes these registrations forms are filled out by someone who can barely read, or someone with horrible handwriting… and sometimes that person whose notes I struggle to understand is me! (Click HERE for more)
We are located in the Community Room within the Family Life Center of Mountain Park United Methodist Church, 1405 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30087. The Family Life Center is to the left and back of the sanctuary (for easy access, use the Popular Drive entrance off of Rockbridge Road)
Share the love!
If you know of a family in need, or have questions about how you can get involved please email lunches@mountainparkumc.org
This program is run completely by volunteers and exists through generous donations of food, supplies and money. Monetary donations are always appreciated and give us the flexibility to purchase the items we need to supplement donated items. Checks may be made out to: “Mountain Park United Methodist Church” with a notation that the donation is for “Lunches of Love”. Place donations in the weekly Sunday offering or mail to P.O. Box 871147, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Online donations may be made through https://onrealm.org/mountainparkumc/-/form/give/now (please scroll through the option to change the "fund" to “Lunches of Love”)