Madison County Schools delivering four times as many meals to students since March

Since the coronavirus pandemic closed classrooms across North Carolina in mid-March, the size of a weekday food distribution effort run by Madison County Schools has nearly quadrupled in size. On March 17, school nutrition staff prepared 435 lunches for delivery across the county on yellow school buses; by April 29, roughly 1,600 meals – 800 lunches and 800 breakfasts for the next day – left cafeterias in Marshall, Mars Hill and Hot Springs according to Madison County Schools.

“Our children need these meals and depend on them each day,” said Susan Jackson, principal of Hot Springs Elementary. That school’s nutrition staff now prepares meals for more than 200 elementary, middle and high school students living in communities from Spring Creek to Spillcorn. “The food delivery program provides a much-needed resource to our families.”   

After North Carolina requested a waiver from federal guidelines around school lunches, Madison County's distribution can follow summer feeding program rules that allow any home with a child aged 0-18 to participate, regardless of whether they’re enrolled in a local public school. Families can enroll by calling 649-9276. 

“We are continually getting calls,” said Will Hoffman, superintendent of Madison County Schools. “We know it’s a difficult time and folks are distressed.”

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Federal funds from the US. Department of Agriculture cover the cost of the meals — $2.16 for breakfast and $3.76 for lunch — and state dollars pay to run the buses. The number of meals provided through the distribution is slightly less than what would typically be prepared for students on a regular school day. “It’s close,” Hoffman said. “The numbers are not that far off.”

Food insecurity always exists in Madison

To Hoffman, the coronavirus pandemic has shined a spotlight on food security concerns that have always been present in Madison County, where more than half of the district’s students qualify for a federal program that providing free or reduced lunch. “This crisis has only exacerbated the situation,” he said in an April 29 phone call.

That reality had school officials building on community partnerships to expand the program beyond the hot lunch and shelf-stable breakfast delivered to the front doors of students each week day. A collaboration with The Lord’s Harvest sees boxes typically filled with rice, beans, potatoes and corn meal given at the end of the week. The district also secured a $25,000 grant through the Dogwood Trust to purchase food through Manna Food Bank to support students and their families. The schools also participate in a food distribution every Friday from 4-6 p.m. at the Hot Springs Salvation Army, Ebbs Chapel Community Center and the Spring Creek, Walnut, Laurel, and Mars Hill (Annex) fire departments.

With the academic year winding down and food security concerns likely to continue through the summer, school administrators are exploring options to keep the program running. Typically, the summer months see the district works to prepare lunches for students in need that are delivered by volunteers to a central location. In order to maintain the home delivery system that gets more meals to more families, Hoffman said state regulations limiting the use of yellow buses outside the academic year would need to be relaxed.

“Direct delivery is a key to this meal service,” he said, estimating 30-40% of families would drop off the program if pickup were required. “Hopefully, this program will continue to provide a critical service to the community.”

Front line heroes

The food deliveries also create an opportunity to visit with students left isolated by stay at home orders. To Ryan Little, a teacher who runs a daily delivery route, those interactions are invaluable. “It is great to be able to provide warm meals for so many families by taking the food directly to their doors. It’s a great way for us to check in with kids too,” he said.

Michael Wallin, who oversees child nutrition services as the district’s chief financial officer, said the program keeps 62 school employees working each day. 

“Our child nutrition staff and bus drivers have been the first responders in this crisis,” Hoffman said. “When it comes to meeting the basic needs of our students and families, they are literally the heroes on the front line. There is no other way to put it.” 

The district honored these workers May 1, National School Lunch Hero Day. “I’m thankful to be able to help deliver meals," said Chad Payne, who has shifted from custodial duties at Madison Middle to aid the nutrition effort. "It’s keeping many of our employees working while having a big impact on our county.”