Special to myKNCT.com
Cove ISD expands children’s meal service to include weekends
COPPERAS COVE, TX (March 21, 2020)—No bread on store shelves, no creamer, little butter and one lone 6-pack of macaroni and cheese sits by itself before a shopper snatches it up and guards it in her cart.
Not only are some groceries and household staple items hard to come by through local retailers, citizens are encouraged to stay in their homes and prevent community spread of the Coronavirus.
Copperas Cove ISD Director of Child Nutrition and Warehouse Services Melissa Bryan is determined to ensure that all district students and even children outside the district have food to eat not only Monday through Friday, but now also on the weekend. Beginning on Friday, March 27, Copperas Cove ISD will begin offering Five Pack Friday where students can pick up not only their breakfast and lunch for the day but additional meals to last them throughout the weekend.
“During this time of uncertainty about if you will be able to find the items you need for your family, that is where CCISD Child Nutrition steps in. Knowing times are a little tough right now we are able to fill in the gap for the families in our community. That is what CCISD and Copperas Cove are all about,” Bryan said. “We know how important it is for kids to continue to eat the healthy meals they get when school is in session, and we want to make sure that even though the COVID-19 is causing all sorts of issues for families, providing food and making sure kids have what they need is one less thing for families or the kids to worry about.”
CCISD began providing both breakfast and lunch for students along with academic in-home support on Tuesday, March 17. During the first week, the district served more than 3,000 meals. All meals meet federal requirements and include a protein, grain, fruit, vegetable and milk.
Jamie Ibarra and his wife, Cecilia, have two boys in the school district. Ibarra says he brings his sons to pick up meals each day because it helps give them a sense of normalcy.
“It’s stressful enough for them not being in a school environment and this helps with that aspect,” Ibarra said. “Of course, we have explained why (out of school), but taking them to pick up their lunch helps to fill a void left from being taken out of school so promptly abruptly.”
On Fridays, when students pick up their lunches, they will receive a larger bag that includes lunch for Friday, and breakfasts and lunches for both Saturday and Sunday each individually bagged and labeled so it is easy for children to continue their healthy eating habits.
The school district is also partnering with the City of Copperas Cove to ensure the senior citizen population is protected from community-spread of the virus while still having nutritional meals each day. Copperas Cove ISD Child Nutrition Department staff will prepare meals for senior citizens and transportation employees will deliver the meals.
“Never should kids have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. This is why we do want we do in the do in the nutrition department,” Bryant said. “We will continue our daily outreach to feed and support our families through this difficult time.”
