AUHSD set to continue Free Community Meals Program
By Pippa Fisher
The Campo food service team, from left: Jessica Arone, Lead Steven Nelsen, Irma Aviles, Tume Bayar and Maria Pena. Photo provided
The hard-working food service staff throughout the Acalanes Union High School District is happy to make its free Grab and Go breakfast and lunch meals available once again during distance learning to any child aged between 1 and 18 years old, no matter where they live and with no identification required.
The program officially started again on Sept. 8 and will be offering meals to pick up Monday through Friday on school days between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from all four high schools in the AUHSD.
AUHSD Food Services and Safety Coordinator Rebecca Ward explains that since the district went to distance learning at the start of the shelter-in-place back in March food services staff provided upwards of 1,500 meals a day to children across the Bay Area operating three days per week out of Las Lomas and Campolindo high schools. Usually during the regular school year they are restricted to serving only students within the district.
"We were one of the only districts in the area doing it," says Ward, going on to say how amazing the staff were, giving up their month-long summer break to keep the program going over the summer.
Operating under strict USDA guidelines, Ward says that the AUHSD Food Services teams are grateful and proud to be able to offer free, nutritious meals to any child under 18 years old in need during this very stressful time. "We are dedicated to supporting our communities."
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