TAMPA, Fla. — Having breakfast and lunch is something a lot of families take for granted, but one local woman is fighting for the families who may not know where their children’s next meal will come from.

A federal waiver that allows school districts to provide grab-and-go style meals over the summer for children on free or reduced lunch is set to expire at the end of June, and if it’s not renewed, Barbara Howard said many children may go hungry.

Howard and a group of student volunteers, ranging from elementary school to high school, spent Monday making heart decals to pass out and send a special message.

“Anybody who donates to our causes, we give them a little heart decal to put on their car, and it’s a symbol of, ‘You matter to me,’” said Howard.

Last summer, the volunteers delivered meals distributed by the Hillsborough County School District to over 75 migrant students with 23 groups of volunteers.  

“We would go to one of the schools and pick up the meals, and then we would drive out to where the kids were, and go knock on their doors, and give it to them,” said Esme Anderson, a student volunteer. 

Feeding Tampa Bay’s Matt Spence said during the pandemic, the federal government issued a waiver changing the rules for the summer food programs. The waiver allows families to pick up meals to take home, something Howard said is crucial. 

“A lot of kids may be home by themselves during the summer, and may not be within walking distance to a school, or even have a car to get there,” said Howard.

Right now, the waiver is set to expire on June 30 and Feeding Tampa Bay is encouraging people to contact their lawmakers, letting them know how important it is that it’s extended.

“We don’t want those other requirements to be a barrier," said Spence. "Just making sure somebody has the basics, the food they need to get through the next week."

In the meantime, Howard said she’ll continue serving families however she can, and make sure they know they matter to her.