LAKELAND, Fla. — A Lakeland woman is preparing hundreds of meals to neighborhood children this summer. Denise Gilmore is doing it at her restaurant, Mary’s Bagel Café.

Gilmore grew up at the very spot where she opened the restaurant on North Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Her grandparents had owned several homes there. The restaurant is named after her grandmother Mary.

What You Need To Know

  • Denise Gilmore grew up on North Florida Avenue in Lakeland where her grandparents owned several homes

  • Gilmore opened Mary's Bagel Cafe on the same property last year

  • Last summer and this summer Gilmore has been providing hundreds of free bagged lunches to neighborhood children

  • A top jar of the counter of the restaurant helps to fund the free meals

Mary's Bagel Cafe specializes in bagels, pastries and sandwiches.

Gilmore believes that some children in the neighborhood get plenty to eat during the school year at their schools, but she was concerned some of them were not getting enough to eat at home during the summer break.

The bagged lunches feature a healthy sandwich.

“Which consists of wheat bread, cheese ham or turkey,” she said. “They also get chips and a bag of sliced apples.”

They also get a lower sugar drink.

Last summer Gilmore and her volunteers gave out 675 lunches. In just two weeks this summer, they have given out 475.

“What I’m doing is I am providing them something that’s healthy and that’s free that the parents don’t have to pay for,” she said.

Lots of customers contribute to a tip jar on the counter to help pay for the lunches. Gilmore and her husband pick up the rest of the cost. She also provides a Thanksgiving meal to dozens of families.

Gilmore gets a lot of satisfaction out of helping the children.

“It makes me very happy that they are eating a meal. Even if it’s on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. At least they have a meal,” she said.

Gilmore has set up a non-profit organization to help with her efforts. It’s Mary’s Pantry Inc.