With Governor Landry's decision for Louisiana to opt out of the summer EBT program, many families are left wondering where their children's meal will come from this summer. However, dining halls and food banks across Acadiana are here to help.

ACADIANA, La. (KLFY) -- With Governor Landry's decision for Louisiana to opt out of the summer EBT program, many families are left wondering where their children's meal will come from this summer. However, dining halls and food banks across Acadiana are here to help.

While Landry says the state already provides plenty of food options including the summer food service program, Juanita Lewis, who runs St. Francis Diner (the only soup kitchen in Iberia Parish) says her team is already seeing an increase in the amount of people needing lunch each day with more expected when kids are out of school.

"Last Friday I think it was, we did 375 plates. And I know with the children being out of school in the summer, here they can get a plate of food for lunch to provide for their supper," said Lewis.

While Lewis and team at St. Francis Diner work to take care of Iberia Parish, Ben Broussard with Catholic Charities of Acadiana says their food banks are also keeping up to make sure no one has to go hungry.

"We move about 750 supplemental food bags per week all throughout Acadiana, summertime is a time when we get more phone calls. Summer is a harder time for families who face food insecurity so it's definitely a busier time for food net as well," said Broussard.

With the governor maintaining several summer programs and the combined effort of food banks and soup kitchens, Broussard and Lewis remain optimistic that stomachs will still be fed when school lets out.

"It's south Louisiana, we can argue about a lot of things, but putting food on the table for a family who's in need is something we can all agree on. Though we get higher call volume during the summertime, we also have so many people step up and say, 'How can I help?' that's what's great about Louisiana," Broussard explained.

"During the summer the kids are going to be here, so that's where we're going to see our greatest impact. But we're going to make it with God's grace and mercy," said Lewis.

Because food banks and dining halls are donation based, they continue to hope that more people will show up to lend a helping hand to those in need.

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