POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County middle school student is serving her community in more than one way. Thirteen-year-old Chloe Walker volunteers at an organization making sure school children don’t go hungry. She is also helping children of all abilities get a chance to learn how to dance.
On a recent evening, Walker was at the Dancing for a Difference studio in Brandon. She was helping founder and director Sara Battaglia with a group of special needs children. Walker has spent years in dancing classes and performing dance.
“I like dancing because I feel like I can express myself whether I am speaking of just doing it through movements. It’s really helped me grow into the person I am today,” she said.
Walker has a great time volunteering with the special needs students.
“I like working with kids with special abilities, so they know they aren’t left out and they are no different from any other kid,” she said.
Chloe and her mother, Holly Walker, started something called Chloe’s Creative Movers Fund. It provides a dance scholarship for a child who can’t afford classes.
“The person we sponsor is anonymous, so I don’t know who it is,” said Walker. “But it is so good to know I am making a change and an impact in my community.”
Chloe Walker has also been a volunteer for several years with kidsPACK in Polk County. It provides take-home meals to thousands of low-income children. This year she got people to donate nearly 900 Pop-Tarts to kidsPACK.
“I see of lot of myself in Chloe,” said Battaglia. “She has a lot of the same heart and mission that I had at her age. I always wanted to give back.”
Walker attends Stambaugh Middle School in Auburndale. She was recently crowned National United Junior Miss 2025-26.
Rick Elmhorst
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