Family-owned pizzeria feeds children in need this summer

ADEL, Ga. (WALB) -A small family-owned business, Doughboys Pizzeria, is filling the gap for children who need meals this summer.

In rural communities, having access to free meals to grab and go or home delivery can be increasingly difficult, but in this community, Doughboys Pizzeria has created a solution to help fill the hunger gap for families.

“I was driving down the road one day and something just said to me ‘give back to the community,’ and I just said lunches…it just drove hard in my heart that I needed to start giving out lunches to kids," Nancy Baker said.

Nancy Baker, co-owner of Doughboys Pizzeria Adel, started feeding children in the community during the pandemic when she saw a need, and has always had a giving spirit.

She said, “I think it started with my mom, who at Christmas time would make us give away our old toys to the orphanage, and that’s what started it. It only took a couple years to tell me it’s time to get up those toys, so the next year I already had them packed and ready to go.”

As a small family business, Doughboys is not immune to hard times. But this summer, every Wednesday, Doughboys is hosting its Sunny Sacks and Smiles event from 10 a.m. until noon, giving away 100 free hot dog sack lunches for kids in the community.

Baker said, “I have had a lot of people call, asking were we giving away lunches this week. I’m trying to keep it in Facebook rolling so they know and trying to go ahead and put up the menu so they know what they will get in their bags. But I’m going to feed a many as I can.”

Now, Baker’s thirteen-year-old granddaughter Leigha Mcleighton works alongside her, packing lunches for those in need.

Mcleighton said, “I just try to help out as much as I can. I’m always trying to help my grandma because she does so much for me.”

In July, Doughboys will be giving out school supplies to support children and their families as they return to school.

Doughboys is accepting donations to help feed more kids in the community this summer. If you are interested, please call (229) 223-3083.

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