HENRY COUNTY (WSLS 10) -Â The number of families living in poverty is growing. Every school district in our area except Lexington has seen an increase. Many school divisions report half of their families living in poverty.
"It was terrifying. I was very very scared," said Shaun Hagwood, a Henry County native who spent a year in college homeless. "The uncertainty is the scary part because you don't know what's going to happen the next day much less the next minute. You just don't know."
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Hagwood grew up in Henry County. His high school years were spent in poverty after his mother and grandmother lost their factory jobs. He became homeless in college. Now he helps local families organizing a basketball tournament collecting items like food and clothing for students in need.
"There are a lot of cases where you go and you see kids that you can tell that haven't showered, haven't brush their teeth or nothing like that. Not that they don't want to it's just that they can't. They don't have the kinds of things that we take for granted every day," said Hagwood. "They have to worry about things they shouldn't have to worry about at that age. They shouldn't have to worry about their parents employment. It almost feels like they have to be the ones that go out and save the world for their family."
"Children of course are our future so we need to do everything we can to make sure our children are well prepared for the future," said Elizabeth Green, a Collinsville Primary kindergarten teacher who knows the need.
Two out of three children in Henry County schools qualify for the free or reduced lunch program. The poverty trend is growing across the Commonwealth. In 2005 30 percent of families qualified for the free and reduced lunch program. The number has now grown to 510,054 students or 40-percent.
There are so many Henry County families in poverty they qualify for a federal program paying for breakfast every day at all elementary, middle and high schools. It saves families about $50 a month.
"The majority of our children do eat the breakfast. The bus drops them off at the cafeteria door and they come in the cafeteria first. They eat breakfast, then they come in the classroom," said Green.
After a morning in the classroom they line up for lunch everyday at the elementary schools. New this year students can pick up an entrée, veggie, fruit, and milk for free.
"If you're hungry you can't learn, your mind is not on what the teachers teaching if your stomach is not full so it helps the children and their academics to be well prepared to start their day and to take them through the day," said Green.
Lunch programs make a difference for families.
"To the ones that have been lending a helping hand that's never overlooked. Their efforts are monumental and the people that are down on their luck just look at me. I've been there and if you think you can't do it I can tell you that you can," said Hagwood.
You can help Roanoke City students in need. Here's a link to items needed.
Contact Monica Hatchett at Henry County Public Schools for information on how to help: 276-634-4766 or email mhatchet@henry.k12.va.us