HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Schools throughout the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District service region continue to serve free meals to students while they continue schooling students outside the classroom.
The week of March 22, the eleven K-12 public school districts combined served 94,688 meals to students, with breakfast making up nearly half of those meals.
“Providing meals to students may alleviate some of the stress caused by this unprecedented time,” OAISD Director of Facility Management and Transportation Angela Brown said. “It is heartwarming to see school staff and volunteers working together to serve all children and their families in our community.”
During a time of uncertainty, providing nourishment, personal-hygiene products, transportation and monetary support for students and families is especially important, she said.
“The Hudsonville/Jenison Food Service employees continue to amaze me with their dedication to feeding our families,” Jenison Public Schools Superintendent Tom TenBrink said. “Serving others is what we are all about, and our food service teams and all those involved in this effort, model that every day in every way.”
As of April 2, 2020, the Hudsonville/Jenison Food Service teams have served nearly 37,000 meals in the community.
According to Brian Davis Holland Public Schools’ superintendent, community partnerships have been central to their food distribution efforts.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the challenge of addressing food insecurity needs in our community. Thanks to the assistance of many Holland Public Schools staff and volunteers, as well as partnerships with Kids Food Basket and Hand2Hand,” Davis said., “children across the Holland Community are being provided nutritious meals. As this continues into the future, it will assist with student remote learning. This has been a herculean effort to prepare and distribute this volume of meals and I am grateful for all those involved.”
The more than 94,000 meals served last week went to K-12 public school districts, with another number (not disclosed in the release) served via charter and nonpublic schools to their students.
An interactive map of meal distribution locations is available on the Ottawa Area ISD website. The map is searchable by address or “use my location” information and may be accessed at oaisd.org/covid-19-freestudentmealsmap. If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity — as many are, during this pandemic — visit www.oaisd.org or call 211.
Families should check with their local school or district for verification on times and locations before heading to meal distribution locations. Some addresses are “approximate locations” because they are at an intersection of roads, rather than a specific address.
