COVID-19 and School Nutrition

Seamless Summer Option: Providing Multiple Meals at a Time During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

New Resource from Team Nutrition

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with State Child Nutrition agencies to provide safe and flexible meal service to children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Under nationwide non-congregate feeding and meal times waivers, State agencies may allow Program operators to provide more than 1 day’s worth of meals [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-05-27T12:43:14-05:00May 27th, 2020|

School Nutrition and COVID-19 In The News

In a time of mass job layoffs, furloughs, and in some areas food shortages due to panic purchasing, the role of the school nutrition professional is more important than ever to school-aged children in need. With currently more than twenty million Americans out of work within weeks, school nutrition professionals must now cast an even [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T15:11:24-05:00April 27th, 2020|

Gateway School District Staff, Volunteers Ensure Students Eat During Closure Trib Live, March 16, 2020, author Dillon Carr.

This article explores the efforts of school nutrition professionals in the Gateway School District in Pennsylvania. Their COVID-19 response feeding program operates as a hybrid of their already existing Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals and activities to children 18 and under while school is not in session. The district selected meal distribution points [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T14:47:39-05:00April 27th, 2020|

School District Adds Online Ordering, Sees Uptick in Meals Made Jamestown Sun, March 27, 2020, author Katie Gerber.

This article documents how Jamestown Public Schools of North Dakota experienced an immediate increase in volume of meals served during the COVID-19 crisis after implementing an online ordering option. The Jamestown Public Schools free meals program offers free cold breakfasts and lunches on a daily or weekly basis to children 18 or under, regardless of [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T14:47:36-05:00April 27th, 2020|

Simplifying Service, Bus Delivery, Weekend Adjustments Alter District Food Plan Mitchell Republic, March 23, 2020, author Erik Kaufman

The Mitchell school district of South Dakota began offering free pick up meals to students and anyone under the age of 18 after school districts in the state closed in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Students could pick up meals at one of the five district school buildings for breakfast and lunch. However, one change [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T14:47:34-05:00April 27th, 2020|

COVID-19 Scare Prompts Minnesota Schools to Get Creative in Feeding Kids Star Tribune, March 29, 2020, author James Walsh

St. Paul Public Schools in Minnesota has enlisted bus drivers to assist in delivering meals to children. Bus drivers deliver a week’s worth of meals every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to their regular bus stops. These meals are available to any family with children, even if they don’t attend district schools. In its first week [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T14:47:32-05:00April 27th, 2020|

Kettering Backpack Program Keeps Feeding Students During Outbreak Dayton Daily News, April 6, 2020, author Wayne Baker.

This article documents how an already existing program in Ohio has expanded during the COVID-19 crisis to feed students. The program, The Kettering Backpack Program, was created in 2006 to combat weekend hunger for children who receive free/reduced breakfast and lunch while school is in session. When schools were closed across the state, the backpack [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T14:47:30-05:00April 27th, 2020|

Mini-Cassia School Districts Launch Free ‘Grab and Go’ Brown Bag Meals for Children After COVID-19 Closures Magic Valley, March 19, 2020, author Laurie Welch.

In response to school closures amidst the COVID-19 crisis, two Idaho school districts launched a free “Grab and Go” brown bag meal system for all children under the age of 18. The program is an extension of the already existing summer food program, and currently lunch bags contain food options such as peanut butter and [Read More]

Institute of Child Nutrition2020-04-27T14:47:29-05:00April 27th, 2020|