Twenty public school districts across Kent County will continue serving meals. “Sack” type lunch and breakfast will be available for pick-up at more than 25 parking lot sites. Grand Rapids Public Schools will open four sites today adding three more tomorrow.
Kids Food Basket is also continuing providing children living at or near the poverty level sack suppers. It serves more than 8,800 school children attending 52 schools in Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan Counties.
“A virus does not stop hunger. A virus cannot stop hunger.”
Bridget Clark Whitney is President and Founding CEO of Kids Food Basket. She says food distribution will continue as long as it is safe and responsible to do so.
“We are going to be providing food bags full of healthy nourishing food. And so, the idea is that children and families who come to our distribution sites will be able to get a meal bag that will have proximately four meals in it. All really healthy, nourishing food. And unfortunately, because of our state regulations right now around the number of people who can congregate together, we are not publicly publicizing the distribution sites. What we are asking people to do instead is to call us, email us, connect with us, if there is a need and we will send you to one of distribution sites. We plan to have multiple distribution sites throughout Kent County, throughout Muskegon County, throughout Ottawa County and throughout Allegan County. Multiple distribution sites. So, we are asking organizations, and churches, any type of organization that serves people in low-income neighborhoods, densely populated neighborhoods, where children are at risk in underserved communities, we are asking those organizations, connect with us and we will be able to bring food and distribute food to your location.”
Kids Food basket is also exercising caution and safe practices by regularly cleaning buildings and making sure volunteers are feeling healthy prior to filling sack suppers.
GRPS Expanding Grab and Go Meal Sites
8 Total Sites Opening Tuesday, March 17
Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) announced today that they are expanding the number of grab and go meal sites.
Starting Tuesday, March 17, there will be a total of eight grab and go meal sites. The sites will be open daily, Monday through Friday, from 11:30am to 12:30pm. The meals will be a breakfast/lunch combo and are available for all students 18 years of age and younger. This includes students with disabilities ages 18-26 with an active individual education program (IEP). The meals are not limited to GRPS students.
- Campau Commons (821 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503).
- Creston Plaza Apartments (1080 Creston Plaza NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
- Hope Academy (240 Brown St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507)
- New Faith Temple (1701 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507)
- Ottawa Hills High School (2055 Rosewood SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506)
- San Juan Diego Academy (1650 Godfrey Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509)
- Sibley Elementary (943 Sibley St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504)
- (NEW) Walnut Grove Apartments (875 Sheffield St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503).
These are subject to change and additional sites may be added.
Food Plans for Kent ISD School Districts
Families are invited to pick up meals for any child ages 18 and under, and students with disabilities ages 18-26 with an active IEP. The Michigan Department of Education recently granted flexibility in the federal guidelines so schools are allowed to serve meals which families can simply come pick up.
Most districts are offering both breakfast and lunch foods and many are packaging multiple meals to pick up. Some districts are also offering delivery or neighborhood drop-off, so families may want to visit their district’s website or social media for additional details. Ending dates vary, so families are encouraged to ask for that information at the school.
Byron Center Public Schools
Monday, Thursday 12pm-1pm, at Byron Center High School (bus loop) for drive-through meals
Monday, Thursday Community locations (walk up):
11:15am-12pm
Prescott Community
12:15pm-1pm
Holiday Estates
1:15pm-2pm
Byron Center Mobile Village
Caledonia Community Schools
Monday-Thursday 9am-2:30pm at Duncan Lake Middle (behind school at Food Service & Shipping doors)
Cedar Springs Public Schools
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11am-12:30pm at Cedar Springs High School
Comstock Park Public Schools
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:30am-12pm at York Creek Leasing Office Area, 10:30am-11am at Mobile Home Park on West River Dr., 11am-1pm Comstock Park High School
East Grand Rapids Public Schools
Staff have coordinated with Grand Rapids Public Schools, or existing food service providers, to ensure families know about available meal pick-up sites. Additionally, door-to-door meal deliveries have been arranged for those who need them. Families can contact amorey@egrps.org
for information.
Forest Hills Public Schools
Tuesday, Friday 11am-1pm & 5pm-7pm at Central High School, Eastern Middle/High School, Northern High School
Godfrey Lee Public Schools
Monday-Friday 10am-12pm at Early Childhood Center (outside gym), of Godfrey Elementary (in front), Lee Middle/High School (in back)
Godwin Heights Public Schools
Wednesdays 10:30am-12:30pm at North Godwin Elementary
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Monday-Friday 11:30am-12:30pm New Faith Temple, San Juan Diego Academy, Creston Plaza Apartments, Campau Commons, Hope Academy, Sibley Elementary, Ottawa Hills High School
Grandville Public Schools
Varies Wednesday, Friday 3/18, 20 10:00am-1:00pm at Grandville Middle
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3/23, 25, 27 10:00am-1:00pm at Grandville Middle
Monday, Wednesday 3/30, 4/1 10:00am-1:00pm at Grandville Middle
Kelloggsville Public Schools
Beginning 3/18 & 20, then Monday, Wednesday, Friday through 4/3 11:30am-12:30pm at Kelloggsville High School (Division Ave. entrance student drop off area)
Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Beginning 3/17, Monday-Friday through school closure 10:15am-1:30pm at planned bus routes, staff will deliver meals to students or parents throughout neighborhoods in the district. Weekend meals planned for Friday deliveries with the help of community partners.
Kent City Community Schools
Monday-Friday 9:00am-12:00 pm at Kent City Elementary (atrium and bus drop off areas)
Kentwood Public Schools
Tuesday, Friday 11am-2pm in cafeterias at Glenwood Elementary, Crestwood Middle, Valleywood Middle, Freshman Campus
Lowell Area Schools
Tuesday, Friday 11am-12pm & 6pm-7pm at Alto Elementary and at Impact Church
Northview Public Schools
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5:30pm-6:30pm at Northview High School
Rockford Public Schools
Beginning 3/17, then Monday-Friday until further notice 9am-11am from Rockford High School (door #3 located at the front). Extra meals will be provided on Fridays for the weekend. For additional food-related needs, families can call 616-863-6037.
Sparta Area Schools
3/17 and Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 11am-1pm at Sparta High School (main entrance)
Beginning 3/18, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
10:15am-10:45am
Balyeat Field (parking lot)
Algoma Township Sports Park (Algoma Ave. parking lot)
Parkwood Green Village Community Center
11:am-11:30am
Sparta Baptist Church (parking lot)
Trinity Lutheran Church (parking lot)
Riverview Mobile Home Park (playground)
Glenwood Mobile Home Park
Thornapple Kellogg Schools
Monday, Thursday 3:30pm - 5:30pm at Thornapple Kellogg Middle (take service drive to loading dock)
Wyoming Public Schools
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12pm-1pm at West Elementary, Wyoming Junior High
OTTAWA AREA SCHOOLS PROVIDE FREE MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS ACROSS REGION DURING SCHOOL CLOSING PERIOD
K-12 school districts throughout the Ottawa area are working to ensure that all students throughout the OAISD service region are included in meal distribution plans during the school closure period amid the COVID-19 emergency. Below is information to be shared with families:
- Parents may participate in ANY of our local district food service plans now through April 5, 2020. Refer to the links below for specific information for each district. Most are offering multiple pick up opportunities to receive meals for multiple days to limit the number of trips required.
- Though some local district sites refer to all children “age 18 & under,” they realize that Special Needs includes students “up to age 26” and are prepared to serve these families.
- There is NO cost for the meals, regardless of whether or not the family qualifies for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program.
- Children do NOT need to be present with the parent(s) to pick up meals.
- For planning purposes, some districts are requesting advance information. Please encourage parents to visit the district links below as soon as possible to assist in these efforts.
SCHOOL DISTRICT SITES AND INFO:
Allendale
Form: https://www.allendale.k12.mi.us/district/foodservices/meal-kit-pick-up-survey/
Coopersville
https://coopersvillebroncos.org/downloads/district_files/parent_letter_3-16-2020.pdf
Grand Haven
https://www.ghaps.org/our-district/coronavirus-updates/
Hamilton
Meals available at High School on Tuesday, March 17 from 11:00-12:30. Then again on Friday, March 20, at the High School, Bentheim Elementary and Blue Star Elementary.
Holland
https://www.hollandpublicschools.org/our-district/superintendents-office/important-messagesupdates/
Hudsonville
https://www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org/updates
Jenison
Meals available weekdays, March 17 – April 3, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, at the following locations: Bursley Elementary, Rosewood Elementary, Bauerwood Elementary & Jenison High School.
Saugatuck
www.saugatuckpublicschools.com
Spring Lake
https://www.springlakeschools.org/event/breakfast-lunch-during-school-closure/
West Ottawa
https://www.westottawa.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WOPS-School-Closure-Food-Delivery-Flyer.pdf
Zeeland