The Street Angels need food to help feed the hungry. A group of University of South Florida Lakeland students has decided to help.

A nonprofit organization based in Winter Haven, the Street Angels provide food and financial support to the homeless and community members who are struggling due to job loss and economic hardship.

"We are at our lowest supply of canned food in five years," says Skyra Kim Norris, the organization's founder. "We have more demand than donations."

Norris says the group needs soup, peanut butter, juice and other non-perishable items.

Student Joshua Jackson says the support for the Street Angels grew out of a human relations class at USF Lakeland, where students divided into groups and chose a community service project to direct and conduct for the spring semester. Along with Jackson, the group includes Lindsay Floto, Kelly Floyd and Hope Senkeleski.

“These students are working very hard on this project to make it successful and should take great pride in what they have accomplished,” says Susan Hurley, coordinator of academic programs, who also teaches the human relations class. “Service learning projects are an important addition to classroom learning and help to provide a better understanding of human relationships and the needs of so many people in Polk County.”

Other student community service projects include a drive to collect belts and socks for Polk County school children, and a home makeover for the Shalom-Center for Peace and Restoration.

Street Angels donations may be dropped of at the Student Government Office in the Lakeland Technology Building at USF Lakeland, 3433 Winter Lake Rd., or at the Street Angels house, 628 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven. Cash donations are also accepted. For more information call 863-956-0457 or e-mail streetangels@rescueteam.com.