Page 22 - The EDGE Winter 2022

FOOD SERVICE

BY KATHY GLINDMEIER
Working Together to Feed More Kids

Kathy Glindmeier

The COVID pandemic presented many challenges Waivers. It has been a challenge for food service
to the Arizona School Business Officials in March directors to purchase food and hire staff to meet the
2020 and one of the most immediate was to continue high demand.
feeding students who were no longer in school.
For the past several years, the Arizona Food Bank
Food service staff in school districts responded Network has been working with school districts by
by creating menus, distribution points, and staff providing technical assistance, connections to new
COVID guidelines to meet the need. True first partners, and grants to child nutrition programs to
responders, the child nutrition employees continue expand services to at-risk students. For example,
to serve meals while practicing COVID protocols. many school districts have students who can benefit
from supper meals or weekend food backpack kits.
Even with this extraordinary effort, 21% fewer Arizona Food Bank Network partners with their
meals are served in Arizona in comparison to pre- regional food banks, like St. Mary’s Food Bank,
COVID rates. Public health experts referred to to address this need and provide supper meals and
this decrease as “missed meals.”If schools were weekend food kits.
in session, breakfast and lunch would have been
served to students. The impact is most significant On a personal level, I discovered the value of
on the more than 75% of students who come from community partners when faced with missed meals
families who qualify for free and reduced meals. when I was the Food Service Director in Paradise
Valley Schools several years ago. North Canyon
High School had at-risk students who participated in
after school activities. Staffing was very tight and,
while the students needed supper meals, I could not
guarantee our food service could provide them.

“Missed meals have a significant

impact on children’s health, nutrition,
and food security. The pandemic

brought the concept to the forefront,

but it has always been there.”
Missed meals have a significant impact on children’s
health, nutrition, and food security. The pandemic
brought the concept to the forefront, but it has St. Mary’s Food Bank stepped in to fill the gap
always been there. by providing a loaned refrigeration unit and cold
supper meals. Now, this year the Food Service
This school year, students are back in class, and Department is providing the meals as part of their
child nutrition programs are feeding all students National School Lunch Program. Having St Mary’s
for free as part of the COVID-19 USDA Response Food Bank as a partner allowed us to bridge the gap

|
22 THE EDGE WINTER 2022