Spring Break is an oasis in the educational schedule – a chance to recharge batteries toward the final dash to the end of the school year.
But for about 2,000 students, it means going without free breakfast and lunch provided by the School District of Osceola County’s Families in Transition (FIT) Program.
As it did during the Winter break last year, Osceola County commissioners are stepping in to help by allocating more than $90,000 to provide FIT students with a $50 gift card to fight food insecurity.
“Our commission has pledged to fight food insecurity and a large part of that is making sure that our children never have to worry about being able to have regular meals,” said Osceola Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington. “I am thankful we can work with the School District to once again help these vulnerable families and provide this assistance during Spring Break.”
Commission Vice Chairwoman Viviana Janer spearheaded the effort to help students since visiting a local elementary school last year.
“As evidenced by the increasing number of families in the FIT Program, the needs in our community are still great. The increased food insecurity during the break is a real situation and this action will help relieve some stress on families already dealing with so many issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Janer. “Once again the Board finds itself in a position to support this effort because of available funding, and I am pleased we can provide dollars to ease the burdens these families may be experiencing.”
According to the School District, the Families in Transition program operates in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; reauthorized as Title IX of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in July 2016. This legislation requires that all children, including preschool age, experiencing homelessness have the same rights to a free and appropriate public education as housed children. Homeless children include those who lack a fixed, regular, adequate night-time residence, including those living in hotels and motels.
