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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo 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,\u201d said Maria Vazquez, superintendent for Orange County Public Schools.<\/p>\n
Serita Beamon, superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools, agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt provides a sense of calm in what can be a very chaotic time for many families, where you\u2019re wondering whether or not you\u2019re going to be able to provide nutritious meals for your children,\u201d Beamon said.<\/p>\n
As part of the initiative, AdventHealth, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, also launched its new \u201cDrive Out Hunger Holiday Bus.\u201d The school bus, which is wrapped in holiday d\u00e9cor, 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.<\/p>\n