A third-grader in New Jersey showed just how hard the coronavirus pandemic has hit many in the country when she broke down during one of her virtual classes this week saying she was “starving.”

Speaking to TODAY FOOD, a foodbank in New Jersey called Fulfill said they received a phone call form the social worker at the little girl’s school who explained what had happened during the class, saying the girl had been having trouble concentrating and then began uncontrollable sobbing. Fulfill’s director of external affairs Linda Kellner shared:

“When asked what was wrong, she confessed in front of her entire class that she was starving. It’s just all so heart-wrenching and frankly, very very courageous of this little girl.”

Fulfill reached out to the family and immediately provided them with groceries, as well as gave the mother–who wishes to remain unnamed–gift cards to use at grocery stores for future food purchases. Additionally, the foodbank assisted the mother in signing up for food stamps and healthcare for her three children.

“Think of being this 9-year-old little girl so consumed by hunger that you can’t think about reading, math or writing,” Kellner said. “All you’re thinking about is that pain in your stomach. That really is what keeps me up at night.

The mother had lost her job during the pandemic which thrust the family into dire circumstances. Fulfill was able to find the woman a temporary emergency position as a dishwasher, but is working with her to find long-term employment. The generosity and love of the community was revealed as job offer after job offer came pouring in for the woman after their story became public.

Donation for the family have poured in, allowing for the purchase of new winter clothes and other necessities for the children and mother. Kellner said that the pandemic has seen a 40% increase in demand for their services.

“It’s definitely on the rise and we don’t see this going away anytime soon,” she said. “The Jersey Shore is so dependent on the restaurant and hospitality industry … that we think it’s going to be quite a while before we recover.”

“We’d like to remind people that there are a lot of other kids in this same position that fit this bill … it’s a sad situation but there are a lot of other sad situations. It’s tremendous how this story has touched so many people. I think it’s just the thought of how this little girl … how desperate she would have to be to say that in front of her classmates.”