One in three students who attend Frederick County Public Schools qualify for free or reduced lunches.
So what happens during their winter break, nearly two weeks without school? Some kids will go hungry.
Because of this, the Next Generation Professionals (NGP) committee is stepping up to make sure that doesn't happen.
"While they're out of school, that is completely gone. So those two and a half meals that they rely on, sometimes that's all they get throughout the course of the day. That's gone completely," said Bank of Clarke County Assistant Vice President, Cort Maddox.
Items may be dropped off through December 11 at:
Coats for kids, food for families: 12 days of giving. That's what the NGP are collecting. Maddox is the committee chair of NGP. They're an organization for young professionals within the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber.
"We're collecting basically staple foods, canned goods, vegetables, fruits, pasta, peanut butter, things that you can make a bunch of different meals from," said Maddox.
Members of NGP are hoping they'll collect enough food to make a difference.
"The Frederick County Public Schools have identified children who aren't going to make it all the way through the Christmas holiday without extra food donations," said George Washington Hotel Corporate Catering Sales Manager, Devon Smith.
Smith is a member of NGP and helped to organize the drive. She says it's fulfilling to know that the red bins placed around the community will keep kids' bellies full.
"They rely on school food programs and we want to make sure that they can make it through the holiday," said Smith.
Maddox donates to many toy and gift drives for needy kids. He says presents are great, but when kids are hungry Christmas morning, the rest goes by the wayside.
"It's going to allow us to help these children and as a community we're very strong community service oriented. If you don't, these are children and families who don't get any other support from any other organization," said Maddox.
The 12 days of giving lasts until December 11.
Items may be dropped off at The George Washington Hotel, Bank of Clarke County branches in Winchester/ Frederick County, First Citizens Bank, Apple Blossom Mall, The Willows at Meadow Branch, Frosted Crumbs and the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber office.
