There is a staggering number of youth in America that are homeless. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.3 million children are displaced — 33,000 in Florida.

One area school has taken some action as part of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.

Students at Lee Middle School have turned Ms. Keeler's classroom into a local convenience store.

Instead of shelves, there were boxes filled with toothpaste, backpacks, shower gels and towels. Rather than buying goods, the teachers gave them away to the very kids they teach.

"I think they find it kind of hard to believe that someone's reaching out to them in this manner," journalism teacher Doris Keeler said. "It's something that they're not used to, and they're very proud children; they don't want to be identified as homeless. They just want to be normal students like the rest of them."

The National Coalition for the Homeless classified those students as not having a permanent residence. When Keeler found out that 42 students at the school were considered homeless, she rallied her co-workers to collect items for students and their families.

"Some of them live in shelters, some of them live in hotels, some of them live with other relatives, and some of them move from home to home, just so they have a roof over their head," Keeler said.

Of course, it was perfect timing, because the Thanksgiving holiday was right around the corner.

Keeler said if the teachers continue to bring in items for the drive, they will continue to support their students until those supplies run out.

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