Many school districts are now offering remote learning, but not all students are getting their meals. In St. Paul Public Schools, around 70% of students depend on school meals. With about 7,000 students learning from home, the district is trying to find ways to keep food accessible.
Stacy Koppen, the director of nutrition services for the district, emphasizes the importance of providing meals, especially during tough times. She says, “It’s one of our most basic human needs, and it’s critically important we have resources in place in a time of crisis.”
To tackle this issue, St. Paul Public Schools is teaming up with Second Harvest Heartland. They are distributing food boxes to families in need. These boxes are provided at no cost and contain meals for the week.
Ethan Neal from Second Harvest Heartland shares that there are two types of boxes. One includes staples like corn tortillas, beans, rice, and taco seasoning, while the other has items like tuna, green beans, and cereal. So far, over 500 families have signed up for this program.
However, there’s a challenge in making sure families feel comfortable asking for help. Koppen points out that some families are hesitant to seek assistance due to privacy concerns. “Some of our families are too intimidated to ask for this… particularly until we prove we will maintain privacy,” she says.
Each week, the district will deliver new food boxes and will review the program’s effectiveness in March. This reflects a growing trend in other districts as well, where schools are recognizing the importance of meal programs during remote learning periods.
The impact of such initiatives is significant. According to a recent survey by the Food Research and Action Center, nearly 14 million children live in food-insecure households in the U.S. This highlights the urgent need for school meal programs.
In conclusion, providing food resources during these challenging times is essential. As schools adapt to new learning methods, maintaining access to nutrition will be a critical component of supporting student well-being. For more insights on food security initiatives, see the report from Feeding America.
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Ellen Galles,Food,SPPD,St. Paul Public Schools
