Lakewood schools handing out meals at their bus stops

The Lakewood School District is providing about 1,800 meals per day to local children

Lakewood School District has begun providing meals to local children in an effort to make sure all youth are getting food during the new coronavirus quarantine.

The district is delivering meals through its bus routes at all bus stops. Any child, even if not enrolled in a Lakewood school, can receive a meal.

There is no registration required and the meals are free.

Buses start out at 9 a.m. each day.

Amie Verellen-Grubbs, assistant director of teaching and learning at the district, said that the district decided to use their bus routes because they "wanted to reach the kids that needed it the most."

The Lakewood School District is a more rural district with spread out bus stops, and unlike some other local districts, many children are not able to walk to their school.

"Especially now that we're in a 'stay-at-home' order," said Verellen-Grubbs. "We wanted to do everything we could."

The number of meals given out has increased quickly with the program, she said.

"We have almost tripled the number of meals that we are serving," said Verellen-Grubbs, adding the district is now serving about 1,800 meals per day.

She noted that the menu has also been improving each day.

"We had some issues getting food out in the beginning," said Verellen-Grubbs.

Many students rely on the food that they receive at school and with school closing because of the COVID-19 outbreak there was concern of where they would receive lunch.

When Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee ordered schools closed he also ordered districts to put together lunch programs.

"As a district we do a lot more than just educational services," said Verellen-Grubbs.

She said she oversees a number of different populations including foster care students and low-income families that often need those lunches.

"There's a lot our schools do in terms of meals that many kids count on," she said. "There's a moral obligation to continue that."

Leftover meals are donated to local churches.

"If we have any meals left we leave them with the local Lutheran church," which takes them to three other local churches.

Families and other community members can pick up leftover meals there if they are still in need of food, said Verellen-Grubbs.

The program is keeping a lot of Lakewood School District working through the closure as well.

"There is a good number of staff members involved in helping with this," said Verellen-Grubbs, including para-educators, bus drivers and nutrition staff.

"Staff is excited to continue to be involved in the lives of these students and families," she said.

The district is also putting together some boxes of grocery staples that families will be able to sign up for. The items are meant for the week that is typically spring break.

Those boxes are scheduled to head out sometime soon, possible April 3 or 6, said Verellen-Grubbs.