To help feed Central Florida students who might go hungry over the winter holiday break, three local corporations have donated more than $360,000 to stock school food pantries families can visit before campuses close.
Nearly 300,000 students in Orange, Osceola and Seminole receive free or discounted meals at their public schools, often eating breakfast, lunch and a snack on campus. When school is out, some families struggle to feed their children.
AdventHealth, Orlando Magic and Florida Citrus Sports combined to donate $361,000 to help local schools in the three counties stock their food pantries ahead of the holiday break, which starts the fourth week of December.
“To be able to have food for them to eat when school is not in session is going to be a tremendous relief for our families,” said Maria Vazquez, superintendent for Orange County Public Schools.
Serita Beamon, superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools, agreed.
“It provides a sense of calm in what can be a very chaotic time for many families, where you’re wondering whether or not you’re going to be able to provide nutritious meals for your children,” Beamon said.
As part of the initiative, AdventHealth, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, also launched its new “Drive Out Hunger Holiday Bus.” The school bus, which is wrapped in holiday décor, will travel to community events, sporting events, schools and hospitals throughout December and then collect donations of nonperishable food items. That food will be taken to the districts to help further supply their pantries.
The bus will appear at the Pop Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium, the Winter Garden Christmas parade and the Festival of Lights parade in Kissimmee, among other events. AdventHealth has a website that lists the full Holiday Bus schedule.
The bus will raise awareness about hunger in Central Florida, Advent Health officials said. One in six children in Central Florida do not have enough to eat, according to Feeding America.
“We want to create a movement with the bus to get people out there and to help our community feel whole,” said Sharon Line Clary, AdventHealth’s senior vice president of community impact and partnership engagement.