'I felt bad for our kids': Arnold High athlete donates meals to Panama City Beach schools

PANAMA CITY BEACH − Arnold High School junior Zayna September saw a need in the community and decided to try to fill it.

Recently, Bay District Schools quit offering free school lunches universally at its schools when a statewide COVID waiver expired. That affected several school in Panama City Beach.

"Once I became aware of this, I felt bad for our kids," September said. "I wanted to help them out as much as I could because there is a lot of poverty these days in Panama City that isn't being recognized, so I thought I'd pitch in and do what I could."

September, along with her family, has donated $200 each to seven schools in the Panama City Beach area, totaling $1,400. The schools include Walsingham Academy, Patronis Elementary School, Surfside Middle School, Breakfast Point Academy, West Bay Elementary School, Hutchison Beach Elementary School, and Arnold High School.

"I didn't think we were going to get that much," September said. "In the beginning, we were supposed to be donating 100 meals (overall), but we ended up doing 100 meals per school."

Students at West Bay Elementary School already have free breakfast and lunch, but $200 was still distributed to West Bay Elementary School.

"Zayna September made a generous donation from Lucky Pennies in September at West Bay Elementary," said Deniece Moss, principal of West Bay Elementary. "The funds that were donated are currently in our Operation Kindness line item and have not yet been used, but if a food need is presented for any of our scholars, the funds are available."

September ranks 12th in her class with a 4.6 GPA and plays six sports, including golf, cross country, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and track. She said soccer and golf are her personal favorites. Recently, she was named the scholar-athlete of the week for golf, and she made the regional tournament.

Every year, the September family usually does a silent auction at tennis tournaments to raise money for important causes. The fundraiser is entitled "Lucky Pennies."

"We had so much going on this year, so we were unable to do an auction," September said. "This year, I used the money I worked for over the summer at my job and used it as my donation money."

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Though the Lucky Pennies fundraiser couldn't be done this year, the September family is hosting another fundraiser at another tennis tournament in 2024.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Arnold High student donates money for meals to beachside schools