OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The School District of Osceola County revealed that 71% of its students use free or reduced lunches during the school year. These same students will also be in need of food assistance during winter break, which begins on Dec. 22.
When winter break begins, schools stop providing meals. Confessions of the Hand Tattoo and Fine Art Gallery Co-owner J.P. Decker said he personally relates to the challenges that can come for children during winter break when schools close.
“To try to get access to those children who I have a connection within my own life, that grew up needing to have assistance in multiple ways for the majority of my childhood, food in the schools. If I did not have food for breakfast from the school, I would not be eating,” J.P. Decker said. “So, I had to wake up, get myself to school, eat, eat lunch, get home, do what we needed to do a lot of chores at home, a lot of things that you need to do in those types of households.”
For the seventh year, J.P. and Lisa Decker are hosting a food drive for Osceola County schools students who need food assistance during the holidays. From now until Sunday, they and nine other businesses are collecting nonperishables for the Blessing Baskets initiative with the goal of feeding 200 families…