TAMPA, Fla. — As kids make their way to school each Monday morning, Tampa resident Diane Wingfield is there to hand out snacks to make sure they’ve got enough to eat all day.
The day starts early, and before the sun comes up on North 34th Street, Wingfield is already at a table covered with paper snack bags under a tent in front of Agape Ministries Church of God in Christ.
What You Need To Know
Every Monday, Diane Wingfield hands out snacks to school kids in front of Agape Church of God in Christ
Wingfield started the program at the beginning of the school year
Her husband, Pastor Alvin Wingfield, helps with the program
Wingfield also hosts a monthly hot dog event for students
“And I give them these snack bags because sometimes in the middle of the day our children get a little hungry,” Wingfield said.
She makes sure there is a variety of snacks in the bags.
“OK, they will get, like, a cheese mix. They have different things in it,” she said.
That includes a Nutri-Grain bar, fruity snacks and raisins. Wingfield also has bottles of water and Gatorade on hand.
“Good morning. How are you doing? Good to see you this morning,” Wingfield said to high school student Kevin Williams as she gave him a hug.
The children come to the table for a snack while they wait for their school buses to show up.
“Most of them are regulars from around the neighborhood,” Wingfield said.
Wingfield said she originally started giving out the snacks at the beginning of the school year to attract some of the students to the church’s youth group. She also provides snacks to some of the students who are already on their bus when it makes a stop near the church.
“Anything she does, she gets that burst of energy to just go ahead and do what she wants to do,” said her husband, Pastor Alvin Wingfield, who helps out with the snack giveaway.
Diane said she is handing out more than just snacks as the students walk by.
“Yes, you have to give a little love and happiness,” she said. “Especially to the children early in the morning.”