TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — One food bank in the Tallahassee area is seeing a need that you might not realize exists. College students going hungry.
The student community is huge here in the Big Bend.
College students filled the courtyard Wednesday at Tallahassee Community College looking for food to take home at Farm Share's food distribution table.
"College is very, very much of a financial burden. Some kids have to apply for financial aid, work full time and try to work full time in school," said TCC junior D.J. McKnight.
Like many other college students, McKnight is struggling to make ends meet. He's working hard to pay for school, without financial aid.
"So its hard, especially when you don't have the financial support from your parents," said McKnight.
Farm Share event coordinators say they've seen the need and that's why they're focusing efforts on the many students in our area.
"College kids have so much to worry about. A lot of them work full time and go to class even though they are working full time, they are still trying to pay for college so they don't have a lot of pocket money to go grocery shopping," said Emily Massau, Distribution Coordinator. "So we want to make sure we are able to give them things they are able to use."
All of the volunteers from Farm Share set up the food table with one goal in mind.
"The goal is to feed as many people as we can. We brought pallets and pallets of food out. Our motto is give it out until it's gone," said Massau.
And these students are grateful for the help.
"You want kids to go to school and get a higher education. Higher learning is always great. Some kids fear going to college because the know they don't have the funds for it or they don't have a family to help them out," said McKnight. "So this is great, it's really great."
If you would like to learn about more ways you can get involved with Farm Share, visit farmshare.org.
