Teacher raised over $ 100 to feed schoolchildren in need during the holidays

Lakewood School teacher LeJohn Parker organized the largest food gathering for the neediest schoolchildren so they don't go hungry during the holidays. He bought $ 106 worth of groceries. ABC11.

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“Amazing! - Parker was delighted. “I even cried.”

This humble teacher, along with his ever-growing list of donors and community partners, have donated six figures to this year's charity event. Parker and a small army of volunteers donated money to Costco to buy non-perishable food for more than 5 students from a dozen local schools in Durham County whose families could go hungry during the holidays.

“Two weeks is a long time to go without lunch or breakfast. Children need to eat a lot, and food is expensive,” Parker explained.

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Food insecurity is a serious problem in Durham, especially for people of non-whites and low incomes. Nearly three-quarters of Durham's blacks and Hispanics do not have access to nearby supermarkets (within walking distance), 25% more than Durham's whites.

Of the 12 schools where students receive a holiday food package, 98% provided free school lunches. For many, this is the only place to eat.

“That’s about 5 children,” Parker said.

The $106 raised this year is the largest to date. This was the case three years ago.

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“In 2018, when we first earned $7000, we fed the entire school,” the teacher recalled.

Over the past few days, Parker and volunteers have been packing food and sending it home for two classes at a time. This year, even some food was sent home to school employees - bus drivers and cafeteria workers, whose families could also benefit from the holiday help.

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