Workers say they haven't been paid in federal food program

ATLANTA — Workers for a federally funded summer food service program say they haven't been paid in weeks and are now looking for help themselves.

The pastor of the church sponsoring the feeding program told Channel 2's Tony Thomas he hopes to have things back on track within a couple of weeks.

Former workers told Thomas they don't have that long.

Victoria Andrich showed Thomas around her home. She said her food is ruined because the temperature in her East Point apartment is shooting towards 90 degrees. She fears her diabetes medicine is now no good.

"I'm here, hot, sweaty, can't take a shower unless it's a cold one because I (don't) have any electricity because I can't pay my bill because they won't pay me," Andrich said.

Andrich said she also faces eviction.

Andrich said she has not received most of her paychecks from the federally funded summer food service program.

The program provides meals to hundreds of needy children each day. Other workers said they've also been shorted pay.

"It just makes you not trust people, let's put it like that," former worker AJ said.

Patricia Shaw directs the program. She, the church, her husband, and pastors received $40,000 from the state to prepare the meals. Last week she told Channel 2 Action News they'd run out of money.

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"I do apologize," Shaw said.

By phone, her husband Michael told Thomas he hoped to have the money to pay the workers within the next two weeks.

"People are losing sight of what the objective is. We are trying to feed kids, not line people's pockets," Michael Shaw said.

Andrich said she just hopes she can hang on.

"I'm going tomorrow and beat the bushes and shake the trees because I have good credentials. I've done good work," Andrich said.

Patricia Shaw told Thomas despite the struggles, the 1,700 or so daily meals are still being distributed.

Former workers dispute that saying they believe all those meals have been stopped.

WSBTV