THIS WEEK’S COMMUNITY CHAMPION IS MAKING SURE LOCAL STUDENTS DON’T GO HUNGRY DURING SUMMER BREAK. WESH 2’S MEREDITH MCDONOUGH JOINING US NOW IN THE STUDIO. SO MAYOR, LET’S TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. AS SCHOOLS CLOSED THEIR CAFETERIA, YOU KNOW, ONE CENTRAL FLORIDA BARBECUE RESTAURANT STEPPED IN TO HELP STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT OVER THE SUMMER. IT’S TOUGH FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES. IT IS. NANCY. AND THIS MAN REALLY IS SUCH A WONDERFUL GUY. I TOOK A TRIP HERE TO PAPA DIESEL’S BARBECUE IN APOPKA, WHERE THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MEETING WITH THE OWNER THERE, DAVID ROLLINS AND HIS TEAM. AND THEY ARE PREPARING MORE THAN JUST A GREAT MEAL THIS SUMMER. THEY’RE SERVING FREE LUNCHES TO K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS IN ORANGE AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES. ALL STUDENTS HAVE TO DO A SHOW REPORT CARD OR THEIR STUDENT ID. ROLLINS IS A FORMER TEACHER WHO SAYS THAT HE KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW FOOD INSECURITY CAN AFFECT A CHILD’S ABILITY TO SUCCEED. I JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THOSE KIDS HAVE THAT FOOD INSECURITY, IT’S SO MUCH HARDER TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE. I FEEL LIKE IT’S A GOOD PORTION, ESPECIALLY LIKE AFTER A WORKOUT AND IT’S LIKE GOOD PROTEIN, GOOD CARBS, GOOD EVERYTHING. FIVE WEEKS AGO, WE’RE JUST JOKING AROUND. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED PAPA’S PIT STOP, AND IT SERVES BETWEEN 30 AND 50 KIDS EVERY DAY. COMING UP AT 9:00, DAVID ROLLINS WILL BE IN STUDIO WITH US TO SHARE HOW HE WENT FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE KITCHEN. SO GUYS, SUCH A GREAT GUY, SUCH A WONDERFUL FAMILY. AND HE REALLY FELT A CALLING TO DO THIS. AND HE WENT FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE KITCHEN. SO YOU’RE GOING TO GET TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT PART OF THE STORY. AND YOU GOT TO HEAR FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL STUDENTS WHO’S GOING THERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY AFTER BASKETBALL PRACTICE. CAN’T WAIT TO MEET HIM AT 9:00. GREAT STORY. AND ALSO FOLKS, REMEMBER WESH TWO WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF DOING GOOD RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. NOMINATE FOLKS WITH TRACK RECORDS OF GIVING BACK. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEND AN EMAIL TO THE.
Apopka barbecue chef provides free meals to students during summer break | CommUnity Champion
Updated: 8:29 AM EDT Jul 9, 2026
David Rollins, a former teacher and owner of Papa Diesel’s BBQ in Apopka, is helping local students by providing free meals during the summer through his new initiative, “Papa’s Pit Stop.””So Papa’s Pit Stop is a program, our initiative that we actually just started, to give those kids without access, access to a free meal that they would typically get at school when the school year is going on,” Rollins said. The program offers free meals to K-12 students in Orange and Seminole counties. Students simply need to show their report card or student ID to receive a meal. Rollins, who still volunteer coaches, understands the challenges many children face during the summer. “I just know that, you know, when those kids have that food insecurity, it’s so much harder to do everything else,” he said. After leaving teaching, Rollins felt called to share his love of barbecue with the community, leading to the creation of Papa Diesel’s BBQ. This summer, he partnered with Seminole County Schools to ensure the meals he provides are a healthy option for students. “Within Seminole County, we have about 48% of our families and our students that are on free and reduced lunch,” a Seminole County Schools representative said. “You know, back in the day, we might see certain schools that just had a food pantry. But now in all of our schools within Seminole County, they all have a food pantry to help to fill that gap and meet the needs of our students and families.” Rollins and his team prepare 30 to 50 meals daily for local students. For student-athletes like Aliyah Byrd, the meals are a welcome relief. “I feel like it’s a good portion, especially, like, after a workout. And it’s like, good protein, good carbs, good everything,” Byrd said. She added, “In the summertime, it’s definitely hard for, like, teachers. I know, because, like, my mom’s a teacher. And so some, like, parents aren’t as fortunate. So it’s very nice of him to help and make sure kids are fed.” Rollins said his efforts are about helping those in need, especially during tough economic times. “You just never know what people are going through. And right now, in this economic climate where everybody’s scrapping tooth and nail to pay this bill or that bill, sometimes we forget about those that can’t, you know, help themselves,” he said. “Truthfully, it just really means that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. You know, if everybody does their fair share, share. I feel like, we’ve solved a lot more of the world’s issues,” Rollins said. A community member praised Rollins’ efforts, saying, “This is who he is. This is Papa Diesel, this is David. And he’s well deserve this recognition.”
APOPKA, Fla. —
David Rollins, a former teacher and owner of Papa Diesel’s BBQ in Apopka, is helping local students by providing free meals during the summer through his new initiative, “Papa’s Pit Stop.”
“So Papa’s Pit Stop is a program, our initiative that we actually just started, to give those kids without access, access to a free meal that they would typically get at school when the school year is going on,” Rollins said.
The program offers free meals to K-12 students in Orange and Seminole counties. Students simply need to show their report card or student ID to receive a meal. Rollins, who still volunteer coaches, understands the challenges many children face during the summer.
“I just know that, you know, when those kids have that food insecurity, it’s so much harder to do everything else,” he said.
After leaving teaching, Rollins felt called to share his love of barbecue with the community, leading to the creation of Papa Diesel’s BBQ. This summer, he partnered with Seminole County Schools to ensure the meals he provides are a healthy option for students.
“Within Seminole County, we have about 48% of our families and our students that are on free and reduced lunch,” a Seminole County Schools representative said. “You know, back in the day, we might see certain schools that just had a food pantry. But now in all of our schools within Seminole County, they all have a food pantry to help to fill that gap and meet the needs of our students and families.”
Rollins and his team prepare 30 to 50 meals daily for local students. For student-athletes like Aliyah Byrd, the meals are a welcome relief.
“I feel like it’s a good portion, especially, like, after a workout. And it’s like, good protein, good carbs, good everything,” Byrd said.
She added, “In the summertime, it’s definitely hard for, like, teachers. I know, because, like, my mom’s a teacher. And so some, like, parents aren’t as fortunate. So it’s very nice of him to help and make sure kids are fed.”
Rollins said his efforts are about helping those in need, especially during tough economic times.
“You just never know what people are going through. And right now, in this economic climate where everybody’s scrapping tooth and nail to pay this bill or that bill, sometimes we forget about those that can’t, you know, help themselves,” he said.
“Truthfully, it just really means that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. You know, if everybody does their fair share, share. I feel like, we’ve solved a lot more of the world’s issues,” Rollins said.
A community member praised Rollins’ efforts, saying, “This is who he is. This is Papa Diesel, this is David. And he’s well deserve this recognition.”