The Juneau School District will offer weekend meals through its student meal program, expanding from the two meals per day it has been offering on weekdays.
“I feel like it’s going great,” said Adrianne Schwartz, JSD food service supervisor. “NANA Management Services are continuing to prepare grab-and-go meals at Thunder Mountain High School bright and early.”
The food distribution program, which began on March 18, initially began dispersing roughly 350 breakfasts and lunches per day for all children who collected them. Now, Schwartz said, they’re distributing roughly 550 per day, and meals for the weekend. Schwartz estimated that more than 16,000 meals had been distributed as of Thursday.
A meal distribution point in front of Riverbend Elementary School, April 7, 2020. (MIchael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
“We found out we were able to serve weekend meals and receive federal reimbursement. This program serves children 1 year old to 18,” Schwartz said. “It’s a little broader than our school meal program.”
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The expanded program allows the schools to serve even as the schools teach remotely.
“We’re following what’s called the summer food service program,” “They’re allowing school districts to operate under that program during this emergency closure. It’s one unitized meal for breakfast and one for lunch.”
While NANA Management Services prepares the food at THMS, First Student continues to assist by delivering the meals to their distribution points.
“Initially we were serving directly from the busses and now we’re using the entrances of the schools, which is helpful,” Schwartz said. “We have the social distancing set up.”
The meals are free for students, but Schwartz encouraged those partaking to sign up for benefits through the SchoolCafe portal, which helps JSD to get funding for the meal. The district is currently getting some of the cost reimbursed, though not all.
“We are encouraging families to apply for school meal benefits,” Schwartz said. “If they apply now, it helps the district to obtain resources to continue this program.”
Meal sites and times for pickup
Sayéik: Gastineau 9-11 a.m.
Cedar Park 11 a.m.- noon
Glacier Valley Elementary 9 a.m.- noon
Harborview Elementary School 9 a.m. -noon
Riverbend Elementary 9 a.m. -noon
Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School 9 a.m.-noon
Floyd Dryden Middle School 9 a.m.-noon
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757.621.1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
First Student employees and Juneau School District food services supervisor Adrianne Schwartz, left, carry student meals off the bus they’re being distributed from near Juneau-Douglas High School:Yadaa.at Kalé, March 16, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
