Los Angeles schools are now serving 450,000 meals a day, which is more than the city's food bank
- The Los Angeles Unified School District is providing 450,000 free "Grab & Go" meals a day to children and adults, which is more than the city's food bank.
- Anyone in need can come to one of 63 schools and distribution centers for prepackaged meals, without showing ID or disclosing their immigration status.
- "We are here to make sure nobody has to worry about how to feed their family," chef José Andrés, who has hired furloughed restaurant workers to cook and serve meals, told Insider.
- More than 7 million meals have been served since March 14.
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The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have left millions unsure where their next meal is coming from.
In Los Angeles, an unprecedented effort by the Los Angeles Unified School District is providing 450,000 free "Grab & Go" meals a day to children and adults, which is even more than the city's food bank is giving out.
The district has long provided breakfast and lunch to students who qualify for its school meals programs. On March 16, when city schools were ordered closed, officials opted to expand, rather than shut down food service.
"We know that these aren't normal times, so we decided that we were going to serve all of those who came and needed help, no questions asked," LAUSD Superintendent of Schools Austin Beutner told Insider. "Many of the families we serve are struggling just to meet basic needs and we know we can be a safety net."
Across the city, anyone in need can pull up to one of 63 schools and distribution centers to pick up prepackaged meals that are ready to eat or reheat. An interactive map lets them find a location close to home, and volunteers don't ask for IDs or inquire about residency, need, or immigration status.
On Monday, Beutner announced the LAUSD has now provided more than 7 million meals since March 14. District officials estimate that approximately one-third of those being served now are adults.
By comparison, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank averaged 1,111,000 "meal equivalents" a week in groceries in that time, though it's ramping up efforts to meet the incredible demand.
"The staggering size of this relief effort is a stark indicator of the growing need in the communities we serve," Beutner said.
The LAUSD program is expected to continue at least until the end of the summer session. In Monday's press briefing, Beutner announced that schools would remain closed until the fall.
Daily food delivery is a logistical challenge, but an extensive network of fundraising organizations, chefs, distribution networks, and volunteer coordinators have stepped up during the crisis.
World Central Kitchen, celebrity chef José Andrés' nonprofit that provides meals during natural disasters, is serving 40,000 meals a day in Los Angeles. As part of its nationwide Chefs for America campaign, WCK employs furloughed restaurant workers to cook and serve the food and help with delivery.
"We are here to make sure nobody has to worry about how to feed their family," Andrés told Insider. "Even after closing, all schools should provide free meals to children in need. Creative ways and adaptation are necessary, and doubling down to provide for the families of the children is too."
In a New York Times op-ed, Andrés wrote, "Our fate as a nation depends on how we feed our most vulnerable citizens through this crisis."
Revolution Foods was already a supplier to LAUSD's school meal program, providing options that are healthier than the average cafeteria fare. The menu being served during the lockdown includes chili citrus corn, spaghetti and meatballs, enchiladas with rice and beans, and red chile chicken tamales.
"Many districts are struggling to feed their students, not only because they've shut down their kitchens as part of the school closures, but also because they are depleting their shelf-stable inventory," Revolution Foods co-founder Kristin Groos Richmond told Insider.
Roughly 250 Revolution Food employees now work every day on preparing meals that are distributed by public and charter school staff, the Red Cross, WCK, and other organizations.
'We are far from the finish line'
LAUSD has raised more than $4.5 million to support its relief effort, through an ambitious fundraising campaign called LA Students Most in Need. A one-day fundraiser on April 2 raised $1.6 million, with Matthew McConaughey and LL Cool J making appeals on KCAL, CBS Channel 2.
The district is also providing meals directly to homeless shelters, with additional funding buying computers and other equipment for the nearly one-third of Los Angeles public school students Beutner says can't go online for at-home schooling.
It's also launched a mental health hotline to support students and families in distress.
"In our success is a warning sign," Beutner said. "The need in our community is large and growing. Many of the families we serve were struggling to get by even before the recent, unprecedented layoffs."
Even with the tremendous effort, though, more help is needed.
"We are far from the finish line," Jarrett Barrios, CEO for the Red Cross Los Angeles Region, said. "We still need more volunteers. Though the situation seems scary, imagine how much scarier it is for those with food insecurities."
Read the original article on Insider