DANVILLE (WSLS10) - Volunteers put food into boxes at God's Storehouse on Monday, which means there is food on the shelves.
Without help from the community that wouldn't be the case. That's why 35 restaurants in Danville are participating in this year's "Eat Out, Help Out" on Tuesday and Thursday.
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Ten percent of their profits will be donated to God's Storehouse.
"It's really a win-win for everybody. The restaurants are typically slow on a Tuesday and Danville loves to eat out," said God's Storehouse Executive Director Karen Harris.
She says this campaign and the letter carrier food drive campaign coming up in about two weeks are vital to making sure the shelves are stocked for the summer.
"We do see, typically, a slight increase in the number of people coming to us," Harris explained.
Danville's School Nutrition Director, Stacey Ensminger, says 79 percent of the district's students were on the free or reduced lunch program last year, meaning many families may rely on the food pantry when school is out for the summer and the school meals are not available.
Something Monique Warner understands all too well.
"A lot of my money goes to bills and my children," Warner emphasized. "So, when we need extra I can come here."
Danville Public Schools started offering free lunches to all students this year because the number of students on the free and reduced lunch program was so high and Ensminger says she doesn't see that changing any time soon.
"We are locked in for three more years at our current rate, so I don't see any changes coming down the pipe for that and I suspect our numbers will be similar three years from now."
The 'current rate' refers to the amount which the federal government reimburses the school district for every meal they serve. Currently, the school receives $3.17 for every meal.
All the more reason to splurge on Tuesday and have a meal out.