Clark, Champaign schools distribute thousands of meals to students

National Guardsmen, based in Springfield, distributed food for the Second Harvest Food Bank at the old Kroger parking lot on South Limestone Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

National Guardsmen, based in Springfield, distributed food for the Second Harvest Food Bank at the old Kroger parking lot on South Limestone Thursday. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Districts in Clark and Champaign counties have given away thousands of meals and are continuing their plans to provide food to their students during the shut down that was extended until May 1 by Gov. Mike DeWine to slow the spread of COVID-19.

All public and private K-12 schools have been closed since March 16.

The Clark-Shawnee Local School District averages about 437 breakfast and lunches per day, said Superintendent Brian Kuhn.

“We have a grab-and-go process where families can come to the meal distribution sites and pick up a bagged meal kit containing a hot lunch and shelf-stable breakfast for the next day,” he said.

Kuhn said the district will continue to do what is best for students and families.

“We will continue to operate our meal distribution program as long as the governor’s orders permit. We will continue to evaluate the most effective methods and locations for meal distribution,” he said.

The Greenon Local School District delivers 30 boxes and has 25-50 boxes picked up each week, said Superintendent Brad Silvus.

“We serve 55 to 85 families, most with multiple children, per week,” he said.

READ: Clark County school districts reach out to seniors amid pause in year

Silvus said the district will continue to offer a weekly box drop-off or pick-up.

“It’s gone well. Our staff has been great about pitching in to help with preparing, serving and delivering. Our food service staff has provided great leadership for the meal service program,” he said.

The Northeastern Local School District has given away 1,997 meals to students, said Superintendent John Kronour.

“Thanks to our food and service staff and bus drivers, it’s going well,” he said.

Kronour said the district is not making any changes on meal distribution.

“We aren’t making any changes right now but will continue to evaluate the program as we move forward,” he said.

The Triad Local School District has given away just under 10,000 meals, with 4,500 in the first week and 5,100 in the second week, said Superintendent Vickie Hoffman.

“We give out per week at a time to decrease the need for families to leave home and the exposure to everyone,” she said.

Hoffman said the district will now have pick up at school buildings instead of several other locations previously used, such as parks. This will allow the district to offer a better variety of food choices, she saild

“We will be delivering to those that need it and reaching out to all students who receive free or reduced lunches to ensure they are receiving their meals,” she said.

RELATED: Coronavirus: Clark, Champaign schools plan how, when to provide food to students

The district had already planned for the closure to continue, Hoffman said.

“We really tried to lay our plan out to go as long as we needed to continue,” she said. “We will just be adding the direct contact with families not receiving meals thus far to ensure we get them meals since it will be lasting longer than a few weeks.”

Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School meals have increased over the last few weeks, which is something they have been working to accomplish, said Superintendent Danielle Prohaska.

“Our efforts have been focused on making information available to all families through phone calls, social media posts, surveys and mailings,” she said. “The district distributes twice a week with the second day providing meals for the remainder of the week.”

Prohaska said the district is looking to provide five breakfast and lunch meals at a time to minimizes the exposure to staff, students and families.

“The challenge has been finding a variety of meal components to provide students with items that meet federal meal requirements, require little preparation and include some fresh item,” she said.

The district has also been lucky to receive several donations to distribute supplemental items to families, Prohaska said.

“District staff, including food service employees, bus drivers, building aides, secretaries, teachers, nursing staff and administrators work our meal distribution stations and have been instrumental in helping us meet the needs of students during this time,” she said. “It is this type of teamwork that makes this uncertain time manageable.”

The News-Sun reached out to other school districts but did not receive a reply.

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