Administrators in District 87 and Unit 5 schools have developed plans to feed students who need meals while their schools are closed due to the state’s COVID-19 response.
Unit 5 started food distribution on Tuesday morning at Kingsley Junior High School and four grade schools: Cedar Ridge, Fairview, Pepper Ridge, and Sugar Creek.
The food distributions will continue weekdays from 9-11 a.m. through the rest of the week. Another distribution is planned for March 30 following the previously scheduled spring break.
The meals bags include a cold breakfast and sack lunch in a grab-and-go format. The district says students, parents or guardians can pick up the meals.
Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel said the state approved a waiver for the federal government to pick up the costs while schools remain closed.
“The state superintendent has been very clear on directions: Please provide these accommodations and please try to support students who are needing the various breakfast and lunch programs,” Daniel said.
The Cedar Ridge Promise Council put out a plea for community food donations to serve students during the extended school closure to help ensure students will be fed during spring break.
We can’t say enough wonderful things about the Unit 5 community. Cedar Ridge Promise Council put out the call for food donations to serve students and their families during m this extended closure. The response was overwhelming. #unit5pride #rocketpride #ilschoolsstepup pic.twitter.com/rObRTEnxqR
— McLeanCountyU5 (@McLeanCountyU5) March 16, 2020
“We’ll continue doing that during spring break and then we’ll see what happens on March 30 when we return,” Daniel said, adding that surveys of parents have shown demand for the meals isn’t high, but that could change if schools remain closed for an extended period of time.
“We’re thinking it may grow,” Daniel said. “Once e-learning does happen and students are basically having virtual learning, at that time, this will be as important today as it will be in the future.”
District 87
District 87 plans to distribute meals starting Wednesday when it begins e-learning instruction to its students.
Deliveries will be staged at Sheridan Elementary School and Bloomington High School from 12-2 p.m. Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday from 11 a m. to 1 p.m.
Schools will distribute one lunch per child on Wednesday and one breakfast and one lunch per child on Thursday or one bulk package of food containing four meals per child. On Friday, parents can pick up one breakfast and lunch per child and any leftover meals.
The district has finalized plans to provide meals to students this week. Please visit this link to view details and instructions for picking up food, in English & Spanish: https://t.co/L7owWgI1j1 pic.twitter.com/cRb4Wb2xyP
— District 87 Schools (@District_87) March 16, 2020
Superintendent Barry Reilly said the meal delivery won’t be available during the previously scheduled spring break next week, but he anticipates the district will need to prepare for more meal distribution after March 30 as he expects the state school closing will be extended.
“If we have to stretch this into the week of March 30, I fully expect we will get that extended,” Reilly said. "We are already planning to have these meals following our spring break.”
Nearly two dozen businesses and organizations are also offering free sack meals for drive-thru pickup for any child under age 18 on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March 31. The website FeedBloNoKids.com is keeping the updated list.
Several other charities and religious organizations are also offering free assistance to families in need:
- Center for Youth and Family Services; 603 N. Center St., Bloomington, formula and baby food by appointment by calling 309-829-6307
- City of Refuge food pantry; 401 E. Jefferson St., Bloomington, emergency food upon request by calling 309-827-4223
- Eastview Christian Church Food Bank; 401 Union. St., Bloomington, 10-11:30 a.m. March 18 with drive-thru 6-7:30 p.m.
- Ministry & More; 1107 W. Empire St., Bloomington, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday or by appointment by calling 309-823-9804
- Mt. Pisgah food pantry; 801 W. Market St., Bloomington, open March 18, 5-7 p.m.
- Salvation Army food pantry; 208 N. Oak, Bloomington, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday
- Temba food pantry; 14940 Old Colonial Rd., Bloomington, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday
- Union Missionary Baptist Church; 509 W. Jackson St., Bloomington, by appointment call 309-828-1162
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