Angry workers at an Atlanta church kitchen that receives state funds to feed 1,700 children are demanding that they be paid, but the church says it has run out of money, Channel 2 Action News reported.
"I had a death in the family and I can't leave to go there 'cause I don't have the money," food service chef Victoria Andrich told Channel 2.
About a dozen workers gathered outside the program director's office at New Hope Church of God in Christ in southwest Atlanta, demanding back pay and complaining about bounced checks.
New Hope received $40,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program to feed children breakfast and lunch during the summer, when they're out of school. But the director of the church's food program, Patricia Shaw, told Channel 2 the church has run out of money.
"I do apologize. It was not our intention to do any harm," Shaw said.
Shaw attributed the shortfall to unanticipated overtime and other expenses, and said a computer glitch at a bank caused workers' paychecks to be returned for insufficient funds. The checks have been re-issued, she said.
New Hope is awaiting meal preparation payments from the state, but the money has been delayed by an audit, Shaw said. "Once the state finishes their review, [workers] will be paid," she said.
Some employees said they need their pay now.
"If I don't have my money by Friday, me and my family are going to be out on the streets," food preparer Dana Trotter said.
Shaw said the church would use volunteers to continue feeding children and ask the state to speed up the reimbursement process so workers can be paid as soon as possible.
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