Daily Sitka Sentinel

Grab & Go Meals Off to A Good Start

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer

The first day of free breakfast and lunch distributions by the Sitka School District “went really well,” District Co-assistant Superintendent Phil Burdick said today.

Monday was the first day of the program to provide the school meals that many students had relied on before schools were ordered closed on March 14 in response to the coronavirus disaster emergency.

By order of Gov. Dunleavy, Alaskan schools will remain shut at least through May 1.

Today was even busier than Monday at the food service line in the Sitka High School parking lot, Burdick said.

“The first day went really well. We were able to deliver nearly 200 breakfasts and lunches, and most of those were through the grab-and-go at Sitka High School,” Burdick said. “We delivered about 25 or 30 meals into the community. And by this morning, this number had doubled, so we are now delivering 65 meals this morning.”

The free meals are being made available to all young people up to age 19.

Burdick expressed thanks to Island Bus Co., the district school bus contractor, for delivering the food, as well as district lunch contractor NANA Food Services.

Chef Jo Michalski and her crew had not only the 300 meals set up for today but also had prepared for Wednesday distribution as well, Burdick said.

AmeriCorps volunteers in the schools and teaching paraprofessionals handed out the food  at the high school.

Burdick said that on Friday everyone will get four days worth of food to get them through the weekend.

He added that changes to the food distribution plan are in progress, but not final yet.

“We really want our students and families to stay safe, and so please abide by the (coronavirus) health mandates so we can come out of this from the other side without a case in Sitka,” he said.

The district also continues to work on its plans for distance learning during the school closure, Burdick said. 

“Every school yesterday (Monday) had an online meeting so that staff could talk about where they’re going to go and what they want to do,” he said. He said it was a learning experience for all involved.