In the heart of Lakeland sits a small caf with a whole lot of heart.

Marys Bagel Caf, which is owned by Denise Gilmore, has turned its kitchen into a lifeline. Normally, the caf serves bagels and breakfast sandwiches. This week, its serving hope.

When Gilmore heard about the disruption in federal food stamp funding, she said she couldnt sit back and watch.

Me and my husband decided about two or three days ago to do this, Gilmore said. I sat down, and I talked with him, and Im like, Can we do this? And he said, Yeah, we can do it, so we did it.

She calls it Marys Pantry, and its a new effort to feed families in need.

Every Tuesday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., she and her husband hand out free, home-cooked meals to any Polk County family with students. No questions asked.

On the m

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