Stomach pains. Fatigue. Dizziness.
The symptoms of intense hunger are felt by 1 in 7 children in Florida — who also experience stunted growth, mental impairment and difficulty getting along with others, according to Action Against Hunger.
Entering the fourth week of camp, Gerrie Griswold, corps mission associate for The Salvation Army of Lake & Sumter Counties, said she sees a difference in the nearly 30 kids participating in the seven-week Summer Day Camp Program, which is a Summer BreakSpot.
The Summer BreakSpot program helps the state’s children living in food insecure households find their next meal during a time of inconsistent food options.
“They are able to get the nutrition they need, socialize and be active comfortably,” said Griswold, the director for the summer camp program. “They don’t usually have this type of structure. You can tell the change. They are a lot more friendly and courteous. I’m seeing growth of students who return year after year; it makes my heart full.”
Hunger affects 21% of the youth population in Sumter County, 14% in Lake County and 17% in Marion County, according to No Kid Hungry.
The Summer BreakSpot program, which is funded by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, works with more than 3,000 locations throughout the state, including churches, schools and libraries, to serve breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks to students in need.
Tri-county children living in food insecure households are able to get food from participating organizations including The Salvation Army of Lake & Sumter Counties, the Jackson Street Youth Center in Wildwood and the Marion County Public Library at Belleview.
There are eight schools in the Sumter County School District acting as Summer BreakSpots through July 25. Lake County Schools has 29 sites open, and Marion County Schools has 12 schools and 12 off-site locations. Some sites continue through July 30, depending on location.
With breakfast and lunch meals including a milk carton, grains, meat and vegetables or fruit, the reimbursement rates for states participating in the summer food service program is $3.08 for breakfast and $5.40 for lunch provided in rural sites, according to the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
“The school board has been wonderful about making sure we have enough meals per day,” Griswold said.
Cold meals are prepped and sent to the participating BreakSpots. At the Salvation Army, children who don’t finish certain items are encouraged to share their unopened items with other students who may want seconds. Unused milk and uneaten snacks are left on the leftovers table for the other children who may want to grab it.
Griswold said this ensures nothing gets thrown away, every child has as much as they want to eat and encourages sharing while discourages wastefulness.
Griswold said through the Summer BreakSpot program at the Salvation Army, students are not only getting full on what may be for some their only meal of the day, but they also are filled with substance including social awareness, responsibility, leadership and listening skills.
“We are working with kids with some behavior issues,” Griswold said. “Here they are able to learn from their mistakes and gain a sense of independence.”
Participating children are given tasks such throwing their trash away and helping wipe down their tables before going to play or establishing a table leader responsible for making sure their group behaves.
Griswold said the paid and volunteer staff at Salvation Army Leesburg, like Christine Browne, help things function smoothly.
“She’s old school,” Griswold said jokingly. “From her they learn how to say ‘yes ma’am, no ma’am.’ It’s about respect. We wouldn’t have some of this stuff without our extra hands.” Griswold said although students may not understand why some rules are implemented, the lessons are paying off and that makes it all worth it.
Robert Boyd confirmed there have been some changes in the way the children behave.
The 83-year-old Leesburg resident also said working with the Salvation Army for the Summer BreakSpot program keeps him young.
“I always say, ‘If you slow down, you go down,’” he said. “They don’t let me slow down.”
Boyd, who helps serve students meals, said the consistent nutrition, along with having the chance to socialize with others their age and exercise, has led to mood, behaviors and other improvements in the participating children.
“This is the way things should be,” he said. “They are all getting better and having much more fun with each other. They get to be inside and be comfortable doing whatever they are doing, just making friends and enjoying themselves.”
“They are learning to respect one another. I hope some of them take these lessons home.”
To find a Summer BreakSpot location serving meals every weekday and its schedule, visit summerbreakspot.org/find-location/ or call 850-617-7170 or 2-1-1.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
