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Florida students secretly pack extra lunch for friend who couldn't afford it

$800 paid for lunch for the rest of the year
Posted at 8:12 PM, Nov 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-17 10:02:37-05

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (WFTS) -- Two students in Pasco County, Florida started sharing their sandwiches at lunch when they saw a friend in need.

Madden Briscoe and Xzavier McClellan made extra sandwiches each night and brought them to West Zephyrhills Elementary School.

Their moms thought the boys were extra hungry, but later learned a friend was unable to afford school lunch. The child's lunch account was negative. The school staff gave the child several hot meals for free but later they started giving the child a plain cheese sandwich, according to Madden and Xzavier.

The boys decided to step up and share their lunch or bring another sandwich.

"I gave him half my lunch one day and the next day I gave him a sandwich," Madden said.

"You see somebody in need, you should help out," Xzavier said.

The boys' mothers posted on social media saying they believe the child's grandfather recently lost his job and had trouble paying for the kid's lunch.

"They could have went another direction. They could have bullied the boy. They could have picked on him, laughed at him, but instead they chose the high road," said Robyn Varner, Madden's mother.

Varner says her mother stepped up and paid $800 to cover school lunches for the rest of the school year for three kids. The money was paid for the child in need and his sister. It also covered another child who needed a school lunch.

The Pasco County School District does offer a free and reduced lunch program for children in need.