TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) — Dr. Benny Bolden is in his first year as Principal of Nims Middle School. It's not the year he thought it would be, since fears over Coronavirus have caused schools to shut down. However, he's still continuing his duties as principal but also as volunteer.
Dr. Bolden, along with several others, are out this week giving away food to Leon County School District students. “It has been wonderful to be out in the community helping make sure that students who are not in school currently, and families, have food that’s being provided by the Leon County School District and Second Harvest,” said Gwen Graham, a volunteer, who is using her time to help the school district's students.
Children and their parents can pick up non-perishable items, as well as sandwiches.
"We have the breakfast, we have the lunch that they can come drive thru, they don't have to come inside the building," explained Dr. Bolden. "They can drive thru and pick non-perishables or the lunch itself, which is sandwiches, chips, cereals, things of that nature. They can pick up a milk and a juice. Kind of what our students get on a day to day basis on if they were in school."
Not only is Leon County Schools providing meals, but also Second Harvest. The organization is providing the meals for dinner. Dr. Bolden wants everyone to know that if you need food, and Nims Middle is close to your home, to stop by. "If there's other people who did not know that we are right here in your backyard, at 723 West Orange, if you need a meal, you can come out and get some."
Plus, there is plenty of food available. Jamey Shouppe, Florida A&M's head baseball coach said, “These are certainly times that we’ve never seen before. It’s just too good of an opportunity that the Leon County School system, Rocky Hanna, put forth for these guys in elementary, high school, and middle schools, to take advantage of getting meals. Because there are a lot of people in the city of Tallahassee who don’t have meals at home.”
Volunteers also know how much safety needs to take priority when giving out meals to students and their families. “We’re using hand sanitizer and gloves and everything, to make sure that the food transfer is safe, as well,” explained Graham.
Nims Middle School will have volunteers out all week giving out meals to school children. They will begin at 10:00 a.m. and finish handing out food at 1:00 p.m. According to Dr. Bolden, this will continue all the way to Friday, March 27, 2020. He added that the school district and Second Harvest will continue to do their part after this week to make sure children are getting meals.
