Hunger can affect families in every community, and the Greater Butts County Lions Club believes that no child or family should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.

Hunger is one of Lions International’s global causes. Lions and Leos work to improve food security and access to nutritious food, with projects ranging from community feeding events and food banks to programs specifically helping women and children. 

For the Greater Butts County Lions Club, this worldwide mission becomes something very personal: serving our neighbors right here in Butts County.

One of the ways our club puts the Lions hunger mission into action is through our Lovin Lunches program.

Lovin Lunches provides free lunches for children 18 years of age and younger and brings volunteers together to prepare sack lunches for local children in need.

During the program, volunteers meet every Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Stark Methodist Church with a goal of preparing 250 sack lunches.

But Lovin Lunches is about much more than sandwiches and sack lunches.

It is about neighbors helping neighbors.

It is about letting children know that their community cares about them.

And it is about Lions doing what Lions do best — serving where there is a need.

Every bag that is packed represents a simple but important message:

You matter. Your community cares. You are not forgotten.

The same spirit behind Lovin Lunches can be seen in Lions service projects around the world. Lions International identifies community feeding programs, improved access to nutritious food, agricultural support, and hunger initiatives benefiting women and children as important ways Lions can address food insecurity. 

The Lions Clubs International Foundation also offers Hunger Grants to support Lions projects such as food banks, feeding centers, school-based feeding programs and other facilities that help provide food to people when they need it most. 

Lions' commitment to fighting hunger also reaches children through school-meal initiatives. LCIF and World Food Program USA have partnered to expand access to nutritious school meals while supporting education and stronger local food systems. 

Access to nutritious food helps children grow, learn and thrive. That is why Lions' hunger initiatives are not simply about providing a meal for today; they are also about strengthening communities and helping people build healthier futures. 

Here at home, Lovin Lunches demonstrates how a simple idea can become meaningful community service.

A sandwich.

A snack.

A sack lunch.

A few hours of volunteer time.

When a community works together, those small things can make a very big difference.

Programs such as Lovin Lunches are possible because people are willing to give their time, resources and hearts to help others.

You don't have to be a Lion to make a difference. Community members can help by volunteering, supporting hunger-relief projects, donating needed items, sharing information about the program and encouraging others to become involved.

When businesses, churches, organizations, families and volunteers work together, we can reach more children and serve more families.

The Greater Butts County Lions Club invites you to join us as we work to reduce hunger and serve people throughout our community.

Whether you're helping prepare a sack lunch, donating supplies, volunteering at an event or becoming a member of the Lions Club, your service matters.