Giving Tuesday: School Market Program feeding hungry students
A hard reality is that the face of hunger is often a child's. But with the help of Second Harvest Food Bank, schools are creating ways for students to be fueled for learning.
"Viper Nation Supply Station" is a place where students at Space Coast Jr. Sr. High School can go to get canned goods, snacks, or treats. Recently, it has become something much bigger than that.
A line forms outside its doors every Tuesday and Thursday for all three school lunches.
"We do have students in our school that have major food insecurities and are really good at hiding it," Kerri Weeks, Space Coast's Guidance Clerk, said.
Weeks said she did not know how much of a need for food there was until she started working at the school nine years ago.
"Did not realize how many of our students are in transition having to worry and think all the time about when their next meal is going to be or that they are hungry-- this doesn't just affect their education, it affects everything."
School market volunteer Victoria Bump explained how hard it is to focus when your stomach is growling and you are just thinking about food and not about your homework.
"There are already so many tribulations of high school, that when you don't even have the bare necessities, I mean how are you expected to excel in your classes," Bump said.
Second Harvest has made this school store possible. The students would not get the food they are receiving without them.
"I always wanted to help people in any way I can, and with this store, I am helping people I don't even know. It makes me feel like I have a purpose for this school," school market volunteer Thomas Genova said.