“I started as an office volunteer and then it just became my heart,” said Cominsky, a Rockledge Rotarian. “It was never my aspiration to be executive director. I didn't walk in here with that idea in mind.”

The Children’s Hunger Project in Cocoa is addressing a gap in schoolchildren’s meal programs. While in-school breakfast and lunches are available during the week, some children go hungry on weekends. In response to this problem, volunteers for the organization get together and pack weekend food packages that teachers place into the children’s backpacks. The packages contain nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods these children can bring home on Fridays.

Volunteers meet at the Cocoa location to prep the weekend food packages. A number of businesses, civic groups and faith communities in the area support the effort with generous donations.

“It’s just wonderful to be supported and surrounded by so many good people,” Cominsky said.

The Children’s Hunger Project has been in Brevard County for 11 years. It started out serving 27 students. Now, the program is in 46 elementary schools helping to feed about 2,700 every week. In the early days of the pandemic, the number of meals served reached 6,000 but has since tapered off. 

“We're 72 miles of beautiful beaches with spaceships and rocket launches, but we still have families and children who need help,” she said.

A New Jersey native, Cominsky moved to Florida with her husband and son in 2000 (a second son was born in 2002). The move came after she spent years in Pennsylvania managing sales for a software-reselling business. After that job brought the family to the Florida east coast, her husband's job prompted a move to Tampa. Seven years ago, they relocated to Viera.

For much of her adult life, Cominsky has been involved in volunteer efforts, helping organize events, fundraisers, and functioning in other child-advocacy capacities. 

“You’ve got to care for other people,” she said. “Everybody needs some help sometimes.”