Thousands of children in Polk county face weekends without enough to eat. Local nonprofits, churches and businesses — from kidsPACK to Publix and food pantries across the county — are stepping in to fill the gap.
A worsening issue
The problem today is stark: 1 in 5 children (20.8%) in Polk County face food insecurity, according to Feeding America. That’s an estimated 33,490 children. Of those, 74% qualify for federal nutrition programs, while 26% live in households that earn too much to qualify but still can’t reliably afford food. Meeting local food needs would require an additional $79 million annually, with an average meal cost of $4.16.
In Polk County:
- 14% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
- 37% of households fall into the ALICE category — working families who can’t reliably cover basics like rent, food, and transportation.
- Transportation barriers make it harder for families to reach pantries and grocery stores.
Publix and kidsPACK on the frontlines
At Publix’s Lakeland headquarters, more than 400 associates recently spent the company’s annual Publix Serves week packing 10,000 meal kits with ravioli, applesauce, fruit packs, crackers, and cereal. Each kit was designed to help children get through weekends without school meals.
kidsPACK, a nonprofit providing meals for disadvantaged children, now serves nearly 4,000 children in 87 Polk schools every week, according to executive director Patty Strickland. Referrals are made through schools, ensuring that food reaches students identified as homeless or food-insecure…