ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – As winter break nears, numerous families in Orange County are confronted with a recurring challenge: how to ensure their children are fed when school-provided meals are unavailable.

For many students, the breakfasts and lunches they receive at school are crucial components of their daily diet. To help alleviate this need during the break, Orange County Public Schools has teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to deliver thousands of meals to families facing hardship.

On Saturday, Second Harvest organized food distribution events at eight sites throughout Orange County, supplying meals to around 3,800 families. This initiative specifically targets students dependent on school meals during the academic year, who might otherwise experience food insecurity during school closures.

Greg Higgerson, the chief development officer at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, highlighted how even brief school holidays can exert further financial stress on families who are already financially burdened.

“With the holiday break fast approaching, many kids who usually eat at school will be home, and this puts a significant financial burden on their families,” explained Higgerson. “Finding the extra money for meals can be tough.”

According to Higgerson, Saturday’s distributions successfully assisted hundreds of families at each location.

“At this location, we’re providing enough food for about 500 families, and across all eight locations this morning, about 3,800 families,” he said, speaking at Evans High School.

Many of the volunteers assisting with the food distribution were students themselves. Evans High School sophomores Gabrielle Chambers and Elizabeth Maye helped hand out meals to families throughout the morning.

“I’m grateful that we had the opportunity to be a part of this,” Maye said.

Chambers said access to food can directly affect students’ well-being and academic success.

“If they’re getting fed right and having what they need during the holidays, it can help them do better in school,” Chambers said.

Second Harvest said its eight distribution locations were selected in part to serve communities considered food deserts, where access to affordable and nutritious food is limited.

Higgerson said providing healthy food options, including fresh fruits and vegetables, is a priority during distributions.

“To be able to bring this kind of resource into that community at a time of year when they’re going to be struggling is great,” he said.

The need for food assistance, Higgerson added, spans the entire Orange County school district.

“About 65% of students across the district qualify for free or reduced lunch,” he said. “That’s literally every school, no matter where they’re located.”

Families who missed Saturday’s food distribution can find information about upcoming food drives here.