Free school lunches feed 100 students during closure

Allie Smith, along with her two brothers and mom, walked
through the Granby Elementary School parking lot when two of her friends
spotted her and shouted her name.

The children sprinted at each other, arms spread, and
someone’s mom reminded them, “No hugging!”

Allie hasn’t been to school this week, just like every other
student in Grand County.  She said she
was enjoying being out of school, but according to her mom, Cassandra Smith,
her daughter wasn’t totally happy when school was canceled.

“She’s very education oriented so it was a little
disappointing, but she’s adapted very well,” Smith said.

The Smiths along with other families went to the Granby
Elementary parking lot as one of 12 locations across the East Grand School
District where free lunches were being distributed to students. Smith said
having this resource was an asset for her family.

“They’re helpful,” Smith said. “Especially this time of the
week when payday is coming up, we’re always short on food and we rely on the
school for that. It’s nice to have this opportunity to help make sure that they
get fed and that they get the nutrition they need during the day.”

Smith is not the only parent in East Grand that depends on these resources. According to the Colorado Department of Education, roughly one in four students in East Grand qualify for free or reduced lunch. A big concern for the district as it moved to close in face of the novel coronavirus outbreak was how to continue that support.

Any student in East Grand, regardless of whether he or she qualifies for free or reduced lunch, is able to pick up these lunches. As district employees gave out the lunches, they chatted with students and offered some resources to keep children entertained.

East Grand said it served out about 100 lunches Wednesday. Allie and the other students who stopped by seemed glad to visit briefly with staff and get their lunches.

“I think it’s a great thing so we can get fed,” Allie said,
a little bashful.

Grab and go lunches are available Monday through Thrusday at 12 locations in the East Grand District. West Grand is currently on spring break but will be offering a similar program starting next week. Visit the districts’ websites for details and information.