Vickie Williams, left, and fellow volunteers Jema, Jessica, Agone, Sylvia Figueroa and Chris pack 400 sandwiches from Eegee's at the Compassion Hope Center. Eegee's donates food weekly to the program.

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Sylvia Figueroa and Vickie Williams want to ensure that the lazy days of summer are not marred by hunger for children from low-income families.

Their efforts with The Giving Tree Outreach Summer Feeding Program are helping to provide breakfast and lunch for more than 2,400 children typically served by free and reduced-price school-lunch programs.

With school out of session, children can receive summer- program meals at 17 locations, including Boys & Girls Clubs, apartment complexes, recreation centers and a local church. The program will also serve meals at three YMCAs during July and August.

"I have had kids come up on Sunday afternoon and tell me they haven't eaten since school on Friday, and I feel like we need to reach as many of those kids as we can," said Williams, 70. She spends 30 to 40 hours every week as a volunteer for the summer program and other Giving Tree projects.

She discovered the non-profit organization after the death of her husband in 2000. She said it has brought her friendship, fellowship and an audience that appreciates her culinary skills.

Never one to sit and twiddle her thumbs, Williams also enjoys cooking large meals and coordinating supplies for The Giving Tree's Project FEED, which serves more than 200 people twice a week at The Lot, 4443 E. 22nd St.

Williams said she is motivated by the need that confronts her every day. She is particularly touched by the children who are homeless or hungry.

"I've been low on money like everyone a few times but never been where I couldn't feed my children, and we always had a roof over our heads," she said.

Figueroa, 65, is equally dedicated. She sought help from The Giving Tree when two neighbor children landed on her doorstep regularly with empty stomachs 12 years ago. Aid came in the form of free food boxes for the family. Figueroa's commitment has continued ever since.

She said the organization is effective because it cuts through red tape so those in need can receive help quickly.

"It is the only program that really doesn't ask too many questions," Figueroa said.

"Other programs ask for identification and Social Security numbers and want to know how long you have been in town and why you need help. … They scare people away."

Local need has increased dramatically with the struggling economy, according to Libby Wright, Giving Tree Outreach executive director. Wright said Giving Tree's emergency shelter and four transitional housing units are full, currently serving more than 100 individuals, single parents and families.

"We are seeing a new influx of people who have lost their homes due to foreclosure and have never been homeless before," she said. "Our numbers are higher than ever before for people seeking clothing, food and shelter."

Wright said The Giving Tree Thrift Shop also continues to grow, along with HELP (Hands on Education and Learning Program) tutoring and mentoring programs and the Gaining Employment and Respect Program, which aids clients with job skills and employment searches.

Wright said Figueroa and Williams are just two of more than 100 volunteers.

"Between the two of them, they put in 60 to 80 hours a week, so they could both have paying jobs," she said.

"I hope other people will see all they are doing and realize, 'I can still do something to help, no matter how old I am.' "

For the duo, payment comes in the knowledge that the children they help will not go to bed hungry that night.

"There are times I would love to stay home in the morning. … Tomorrow there is a business that is making 200 sandwiches for us, and I have to be there between 8 and 9 a.m. to pick them up," Williams said.

"I am really tired and would just as soon not have to leave that early, but I will. And the kids will eat good tomorrow."