Meals available to needy students, thanks to Belleville cafeteria workers, bus drivers
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that Illinois schools will remained closed until at least April 8, extending by 10 days his original order in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.
But, each day, kitchen workers and bus drivers from Belleville Township High School District 201, East St. Louis District 189 and other school districts are teaming up to make sure their neediest students continue to receive their free or reduced-price lunches.
Belleville East and West launched its delivery plan last Wednesday, the day after Pritzker announced that schools would be temporarily shuttered due to the pandemic.
Cafeteria workers at Belleville East prepared and packed sandwiches, fresh vegetables and other staples for about 1,250 students. The district’s bus drivers deliver the lunches along their normal routes.
“It’s been amazing, these individuals who are working here, who have their own life stresses going. They understand that our students need to be fed and they have taken on the task,” said Belleville Township High School District 201 Assistant Superintendent Brian Mentzer. “The community wide effort is pretty humbling.”
Meal deliveries are made about three hours later than the regularly scheduled pickup time. For example, if your normal pickup time is 7:30 a.m., expect the bus to arrive at your stop at 10:30 a.m.
“Please be patient as these routes may take additional time,” the district said in a message to parents.
“If you do not ride a regular education bus, live near a regular education bus stop, or miss your drop off time, you can still receive a breakfast-lunch sack from your local elementary school no later than 12 p.m.”
The National School Lunch Program is funded with help from the federal subsidies. Eligibility is based on family income, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
Students from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 and 185% of the federal poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals.
In District 201, 4,967 families qualify for the National School Lunch Program, Mentzer said. That’s roughly 43% of the high schools’ enrollment.
During his news conference Friday, Pritzker assured Illinois residents that the lunch program will not be interrupted, even as his administration continues to assess the school closing.
East St. Louis School District 189 also will provide meals to students.
Here are highlights of its plan:
Meals will be provided daily Monday through Friday. Meals will not be provided March 30-April 3 during spring break.
Meals will only be available from 10 a.m. to noon at schools and participating centers.
Meals will include one day of breakfast and lunch provided in one bag.
Meals will be available for pick-up, but must be taken home to eat.
Meals can be picked up by students or their families. Parents/guardians may pick up to four meals at a time.
Meals will be delivered via school bus to a number of locations in the area, including all schools, some bus stops and some community centers.
For more information, go to the district’s website at estl189.com.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 11:47 AM.