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​About Us.

This is an extraordinary event of giving where neighbors, friends, congregations, work groups, and communities can extend love to those in need. In addition to the annual food packaging event, we now also sponsor food pantries at local area schools.

Established in 2013

In early 2013, Tracy Ippolito, Becky Liner, and Laurye Messer pitched the idea of hosting a meal assembly to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Their idea was to have 200 volunteers from all parts of the community gather to pack meals for food insecure children. St. John’s agreed, but the only date the fellowship hall was available was June 1st. Afterwards the friends learned that Summer was a critical time for food insecure children because school was out and free and reduced price school meals were not available. So, the trio decided to focus on food for the summer and the name A FULL SUMMER was born!
​With support from Second Harvest of the Big Bend, St.John’s Episcopal Church, First BaptistChurch of Tallahassee, and hundreds of volunteers and supporters, the three friends coordinated the first A FULL SUMMER on June 1, 2013. The rest is history!

Since 2013, A Full Summer has assembled nutritious food for children on the first Saturday of June. Today, our yearly Snack Pack is held at Godby High School. In 2018, A FULL SUMMER added school pantry sponsorships to its mission. A FULL SUMMER exists because the people in our community saw a problem and didn’t wait for others to address it. Together, the people in our community are doing something about childhood hunger and in the process, we’re showing love for our youngest neighbors.​
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Our Why

No child should ever go hungry. One in five children in the Big Bend Area are food insecure. Summer is particularly challenging because school- based free and reduced meal programs are not available. The purpose of A FULL SUMMER is to bridge the food gap for these children and their families.​​

We’re just a group of people who care about our children.  We saw a problem and we’re working together to do something about it.
-Laurye Messer, Founding Board Member

Board of Directors

Laurye Messer
Board Member, President

Laurye is an Adjunct American History Instructor at Tallahassee Community College and is a member of  St. Johns Episcopal Church.

Jim Messer
Board Member
Jim is a partner at the law firm of Fonvielle, Lewis, Messer, & McConnaughhay. He is a member of St. Johns Episcopal Church. 

Becky Liner
Board Member, Vice President
Becky is the Executive Vice President of The James Madison Institute. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Auburn Alumni Association.

Matthew Hansard
​Board Member, Treasurer

Matt is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a partner at the CPA firm of Thompson, Brock, Luger & Company

Tracy Ippolito 
Board Member, Secretary
Tracy is the Program Director of Strategic Research Advancement in the office of Research at Florida State University. 
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Velma Proctor
Board Member
Velma is a lifelong volunteer and advocate for community initiatives in the Big Bend area.

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How to Contact

For more information about A Full Summer, please contact us at [email protected]