The Food Service department at Great Bend USD 428 handed out 45,085 meals during the month of April, Superintendent Khris Thexton told the school board last week.

“Keep in mind this is two meals at a time, breakfast and lunch,” Thexton said. That’s about 2,000 meals a day. The meals have been coming, in good weather and bad, since March when the schools were closed. Food service will continue to make meals available through the end of the school year, which is Thursday, May 21. 

Then the staff will take this Friday and the next week off to reset and prepare for the summer meal program.

Meal service will resume on Monday, June 1, providing weekday meal packages (containing breakfast and lunch) throughout the month of June. The curbside pick-up operation will continue at all elementary buildings from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and at the Central Kitchen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To reduce waste, set numbers of meal packages will be available at each location, said Kristy Alvord, director of food and nutrition. If a location should happen to run out, families will be directed to the Central Kitchen for pick-up. 

Any child up to 18 years old is eligible to receive a free meal package. Children must be present at pickup to receive a meal unless the family has a “Parent Pickup Permit.” Existing permits are valid through June 30. New permits can be obtained for pickup without children AFTER their first visit. 

“We appreciate your understanding as this is a federal rule/requirement to fund this valuable program for our community,” Alvord stated in a letter to USD 428 families.