7-Eleven saw kids going hungry during the school break, so they put up a 'sign' to quietly fix it

Helping those in need is one of the simplest and most powerful things one can choose to do. Just the awareness that someone might be struggling, and the willingness to ease that struggle in any way possible, is what makes this world a better place. Today, several schools host meals for their students in order to support education among economically disadvantaged youth. So, during the holidays, when the schools close, these kids are left without lunch. One 7-Eleven in Allen, Texas, noticed this acute problem, as shared in a post by u/EmergencyRead5254 on Reddit. When the owners learned that the kids were starving, they decided to do something about it that would help the families.

They taped a handwritten note to their store’s door, which read, "We understand that schools are closed and that some families rely on school lunches!! So from Monday–Friday (11 am–12 pm), kids 18 and younger can have a slice of pizza, a banana with a Big Gulp ON US! 7 Eleven (McDermott and Watters) Allen." A slice of pizza, a piece of fruit, and a drink may not seem like much to everyone, but for a child who was depending on school meals and no longer had them, it could make their entire day feel normal again. For the parent trying to stretch the grocery budget just a little further, it meant one less thing to worry about, one less month of missing payment deadlines.

While this offer came from a single store, it points to a much larger challenge that many families face when the school year ends. As per a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2023, 44.2 million households in the United States struggled to afford food in 2022, resulting in 13 million children living with food insecurity. The term refers to a state of living where one is unable to secure healthy and nutritious meals for oneself on a regular basis. Many states haven’t implemented summer meal programs at the same scale, and families who are food insecure are often left trying to figure out what, if anything, is available to them. That's why communities like this 7/11 acting on their own is such a meaningful step.

The post gained a lot of attention, and for all the right reasons. u/iWalkInCircle said, "Lol, that’s something I won’t ever get to witness in real life from 7/11. Those owners are amazing." u/DahliaMorne wrote, "Free food for kids during school closures is the right kind of energy." u/Slight-Key-2665 added, "That’s the kind of community care that deserves a shoutout. Respect to this 7-Eleven." u/Maleficent_Use_2649 shared, "As someone who used to be denied lunch as a kid due to not having enough, I love seeing this."

Some shared something their local 7/11 did. u/EyCeeDedPpl recalled, "Our 7-11 gives unhoused people 'jobs' during the night shift to earn a meal. They empty the garbage cans, sweep the floors, or wipe down the counter and get a meal and a coffee for their work, which they can enjoy in the little seating area 7/11 put in the corner for them." u/Old_Swimmer_7284 added, "These franchises are killing it. I had a local 7-Eleven that had a really awesome owner who made sure the community was taken care of." u/Redhawke13 penned, "This is so heartwarming. The owners of that seven eleven must be some really wonderful people! If only more people could be like this." u/Busy_Leader8079 quipped, "This is the nicest, most wholesome gesture from this 7-11. I was a hungry kid. I would've cried to see this, and it would have made my day."