VENICE, Fla. (WWSB) - A Venice woman is on a mission to make sure that no homeless students are left behind during the holidays.

Tanya Unnerstall began her now annual backpack initiative in Missouri for homeless adults, and is now shifting her sights to homeless teenagers on the Suncoast.

She works directly with high school counselors at 12 high schools across four counties to assess the need.

“Their identities are protected since they are going to school. These are good kids that have been dealt some bad situations, but they’re working hard to change their circumstances,” Unnerstall said.

With long Christmas breaks, Unnerstall says it’s important to help the teens, who may rely on schools for some or all of their meals.

In the last two years, they’ve been able to help over 200 studen

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