Educators Nationwide Feed Students During COVID-19 Closures
Glenda Utter has been feeding students in the Lebanon, Oregon, school district for more than 20 years and she’s not about to stop now. Even as COVID-19 cases surge around the country and she worries about her husband at home with a heart condition, she arrives at Lebanon High School at 6:00 a.m., armed with gloves, hand sanitizer, and a strict maintenance of social distance from others, to prepare for the families who arrive at 9:00 for grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches.
“I asked my husband if he’s nervous, and he is, like all of us, but he doesn’t want me to stop. He knows how important it is,” Utter says. “He told me, ‘I am so proud of you guys and the work you’re doing.’ It made me cry!”
Utter’s husband is right. It’s critically important work. Schools around the country may be closed, but there are nearly 30 million students who rely on school breakfast and lunch. Without those meals, many of them wouldn’t eat. And so at schools all over the U.S., families line up at grab-and-go stations like the one at Lebanon High School, where they have served close to 600 meals a day and counting. Each day when distribution begins, dozens of families are already there. They come in cars, on foot, or by bike, keep a safe distance from each other, and collect bags of breakfast and lunch, like pancakes and berries, taco salad, carrots, apples, chips, and milk.
“Anyone who has a child at home can get meals,” Utter says.
Families Grateful, Relieved
She’s familiar with the need for continuity in meals. As a 12-month food service employee with the district, she’s worked over winter and spring break and summer to make sure kids who need meals receive them.
“Our families are always grateful, but they’re so relieved that we’re here and able to CONTINUE READING: Educators Nationwide Feed Students During COVID-19 Closures
