Families across the country are struggling to afford enough food for the week, with the amount of people turning to food banks soaring.
Food banks have previously warned that people are 'on the brink of starvation' as demands for their services continues to increase and supplies run low.
This week the stark reality of what some children are facing, left one teacher in flood of tears, as one of her pupils asked her a question - reports Mirror Online.
It might be happening in America but after Tory welfare cuts it could have just of easily been from a child in a Merseyside school.
Writing on Facebook teacher Brooke Goins said: "Today I cried at work. Not because I hate my job, or that it is just too hard (it really is).
"Today I cried for a child, a child who so innocently talked about food, and the lack of it."
Brooke was caught off guard when the boy asked when the 'lady that puts food in his backpack is coming'.
He was referring to the school's guidance counselor and the teacher explained, unsure of what he needed, that she didn't know when the lady he was looking for was in.
When the student told her he was out of food at home and needed more, Brooke was taken back.
She asked him what was in the bag that he liked so much. Was it the macaroni bowls? The crackers? She asked if it was spaghetti Os he liked.
She said: "He laughed and told me no, that they didn’t have those.
"Then it happened. He looked at me and said 'those little Os (as he made a small circle with his hand).
'We don’t have those at my house, but when I do have them they give me a warm belly and help me sleep'
"I lost it, I cried in front of 20 little people. No kid should ever be hungry, ever."
This report shows the shocking state of childhood poverty in Merseyside.
After the upsetting comment Brooke sprang into action and spoke to her fellow teachers about what they could do for the child and his family.
They all chipped in for a bag of food - including a tin of spaghetti Os - for the boy and his family.
The school in Jacksboro, United States, is now starting a food pantry for its students to ensure they will be able to get food and hygiene products whenever they are needed.
The post has since had 34,000 shares and 5,300 comments - and Brooke said she has had an outpouring of texts, calls and messages from people wanting to help.
She said: "I did not write this for anyone to get praise, nobody did it for the praise.
"I want people to know that teachers are humans, we love your kids and want the very best for them.
"Some days we get frustrated and feel overwhelmed, but today we did what was best for a child. Will it show on a test score? Nope! Do we care? Nope!
"It’s a crazy rollercoaster of emotions being a teacher, but today it was worth every tear that fell to see him light up when that bag was put into his backpack."
