United Food Bank and Services
Hungry to Learn: Why Education Starts with a Full Stomach
Hungry to Learn
At the United Food Bank and Services headquartered in Plant City, Florida, and serving East Hillsborough County, we believe that every child deserves a fair shot at success. But long before they pick up a pencil or open a book, there’s something else they need: a full stomach.
Because learning cannot happen when a child is hungry.
The Hidden Struggle in Our Classrooms
Everyday thousands of children in Hillsborough County, Florida and millions of children across the country walk into their classrooms carrying more than a backpack with books and tools for learning, they carry the weight of hunger. They sit through math lessons with empty stomachs. They try to focus on reading while their bodies are begging for energy. They fall behind quickly not because they lack potential, but because they lack food.
In Hillsborough County, Florida alone, over 50 percent of third graders do not pass their reading tests and 48 percent of the kindergarten age children are not ready to read. There are 25% of children who live in food-insecure households. That means meals are not always guaranteed at home. For some, the lunch they receive at school is their only real meal of the day.
What Research Tells Us
Studies show that children who lack consistent access to nutritious food:
- Struggle with concentration and memory
- More likely to experience behavioral issues
- Score lower on standardized tests
- Higher risk of chronic absenteeism and developmental delays
- Experience more illness
This evidence is clear: nutrition is a foundational part of academic success.
A Meal Today, A Future Tomorrow
That’s why our work at The United Food Bank and Services goes beyond just filling pantries, it’s about filling potential.
Thanks to our generous supporters, we’re able to:
- Provide weekend food bags so kids don’t go hungry when school is closed
Hungry to Learn
At the United Food Bank and Services headquartered in Plant City, Florida, and serving East Hillsborough County, we believe that every child deserves a fair shot at success. But long before they pick up a pencil or open a book, there’s something else they need: a full stomach.
Because learning cannot happen when a child is hungry.
The Hidden Struggle in Our Classrooms
Everyday thousands of children in Hillsborough County, Florida and millions of children across the country walk into their classrooms carrying more than a backpack with books and tools for learning, they carry the weight of hunger. They sit through math lessons with empty stomachs. They try to focus on reading while their bodies are begging for energy. They fall behind quickly not because they lack potential, but because they lack food.
In Hillsborough County, Florida alone, over 50 percent of third graders do not pass their reading tests and 48 percent of the kindergarten age children are not ready to read. There are 25% of children who live in food-insecure households. That means meals are not always guaranteed at home. For some, the lunch they receive at school is their only real meal of the day.
What Research Tells Us
Studies show that children who lack consistent access to nutritious food:
- Struggle with concentration and memory
- More likely to experience behavioral issues
- Score lower on standardized tests
- Higher risk of chronic absenteeism and developmental delays
- Experience more illness
This evidence is clear: nutrition is a foundational part of academic success.
A Meal Today, A Future Tomorrow
That’s why our work at The United Food Bank and Services goes beyond just filling pantries, it’s about filling potential.
Thanks to our generous supporters, we’re able to:
- Provide weekend food bags so kids don’t go hungry when school is closed
- Educate parents on the correlation of good nutrition and early learning
- Partner with school programs to ensure children receive snacks and evening meals
- Educate families about low-cost, nutritious meal planning
Each of these efforts ensures that students arrive in the classroom ready to focus, learn, and thrive.
This Is Where You Come In
When you invest money or supplies to our food bank, you’re not just feeding a child, you’re investing in their education. You’re helping them stay focused during a spelling test. You’re giving them the energy to raise their hand in science class. You’re helping shape a future filled with possibility.