 And a Forest View Middle School is making sure that all of its students are able to have a decent meal during and after school hours. Supplying food for kids and their families is just one part of the Fuel Up initiative, as Logan Gay reports for this week's Golden Apple. You wouldn't think a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would make somebody smile, but... That's just one of the many food options kids in need can find at the Food Pantry at Forest View Middle School. The Pantry initiative is called Fuel Up Forest View and is making a real difference in the lives of the students. Students get pretty excited that they can help out at home as well and so it's been a great response so far. The Forest View Middle School launches a Fuel Up initiative in October after realizing the growing need to provide food for students whose families may not have the resources to provide a meal for them when they make it home. Almost one in three of our students have free and reduced lunch which is a signifier of income and kind of one of the ways we identify students in need. The Pantry provides everything a child might need from food to clothing and even school supplies. These students are caring for themselves or younger siblings and so things that they can easily make mac and cheese, ramen, those kinds of things are always we're always running out of. So how the program works is that the students get to fill up these backpacks with whatever food items that they need and then they return them when they're done. Through the help of a student-driven food drive and donations from community members, the Pantry has grown to be bigger than anyone had expected. Yeah students to bring in food, the student council put it on and they're the team that right in the most was rewarded and our fifth grade just knocked it out of the park for us so that was awesome and then we've been getting donations from Costco um you know weekly they will send over some things and um I mean staff bring things in community members. All the staff use their relationships with the students to help recognize need. We are eyes are open looking for who's going out into sub zero temperature with a sweater and no hat and it's just a quick you know it's freezing cold out do you have a jacket. And whether a student is in need of the pantry or not, every student walks away with a lesson. Our staff do an amazing job not to just teach the kids academics but to get to know the kids and work with them and teach them how to be good people and not just you know math science and English. In Baxter, Logan Gaye, Lakeland News. If you are interested in donating food to the Forestville Middle School fuel up initiative you can find more information on our website. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.