Cross County School District continued its commitment to serving students beyond the classroom this summer, delivering 20,288 meals directly to children and families through its Summer Feeding Program.
Unlike programs that require families to travel to a school campus to pick up meals, Cross County takes its summer feeding program into the community. District employees deliver meals door to door, helping ensure transportation or distance does not stand between a child and access to a meal.
This summer’s total adds to an effort that began during the COVID-19 school closure in 2020. Since that time, Cross County School District has prepared and delivered 174,697 meals to students during periods when school is not in session.
“Feeding students has always been about more than what happens inside our cafeterias,” said Dr. Nathan Morris, Superintendent of Cross County School District. “When our students are away from school, we still have a responsibility to care for them and support our families. The fact that our employees are willing to prepare these meals and take them directly into our communities demonstrates how deeply they care about the students we serve.”
When schools closed in 2020 because of COVID-19, the district quickly developed a system to take meals directly to students. What began as a response to an unprecedented situation has continued as a way to remove barriers and make sure children have access to meals when school is not in session.
“When we started delivering meals in 2020, we were simply trying to meet an immediate need for our students and families. To look back now and realize we have delivered 174,697 meals is pretty incredible,” said Wes Hooper, Communications Director for Cross County School District. “What makes that number even more meaningful is that we aren't waiting for families to come to us. Our staff is going out into our communities and delivering these meals door to door. It is another example of our people doing whatever it takes to serve kids.”
The 20,288 meals delivered this summer required a coordinated effort from employees who prepared, packaged, organized and distributed food throughout the district's communities.
“We are incredibly thankful for the employees who make this program happen,” Morris said. “It takes a tremendous amount of planning and work, and their dedication makes a real difference for our students and families.”