MCPS continues to provide meals for students during quarantine

In response to COVID-19, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) have implemented a new meal distribution policy for students of all ages. More than 40 meal sites have been set up across Montgomery County to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for MCPS students. The meal distribution sites are open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to Bethesda Magazine, MCPS has already distributed 546,000 meals to students as of April 3rd.

In addition to the sites located at schools across the county, meals have been delivered via school buses to several neighborhoods and shopping centers as well. Furthermore, to ensure that these students have access to meal options on the weekends, Montgomery County Public Schools has partnered with Women Who Care Ministries and the Manna Food Center for the distribution of meals on the weekends.

The actual transaction for students to receive the meals has been relatively simple, usually including the “grab and go” procedure. The sites are located outside, allowing people to drive up to tables to quickly pick up their food and leave. In general, the cafeteria workers and volunteers running the sites have been mindful of the “six feet apart” social-distancing mandate.

MCPS has made sure that the food it distributes is still healthy and nutritious. The menu usually includes sandwiches, carrots, apples, cheese sticks and chocolate and vanilla milk.

Although the MCPS meal distribution policy has been successful thus far, two of the food and nutrition services staff members working at Glen Haven Elementary School have tested positive for the coronavirus. They last worked at the Glen Haven distribution site on March 26, and have been quarantined since. In response to this, MCPS sent out a message urging the employees who worked alongside the affected staff members to self-quarantine for 14 days.

In response to this event and the substantially increased number of coronavirus cases in Montgomery County, MCPS announced that it will change their meal distribution policy from five days a week to a four-day-per-week schedule. In a community message, MCPS said, “This adjustment is being made in an effort to ensure student and staff safety, and to reduce opportunities for the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).” Sites will no longer be open on Thursdays, but instead will provide two meals on Wednesdays. This policy will be effective April 20.

Article by Natalie Weger of Richard Montgomery High School

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons