School districts across San José are implementing necessary measures to continue providing meals to students for the 2020-2021 school year. 

School districts in San José launched drive thru meal programs at the beginning of shelter-in-place to continue providing meals to students back in April.

When school districts like Alum Rock Union began implementing food safety procedures like curbside grab-and-go in April, educators across Santa Clara County had to figure out how to support students adapting to virtual classrooms by boosting access to meals.

According to Silicon Valley Strong, food distribution across Santa Clara County spiked at the beginning of shelter-in-place, resulting in 654,550 meals distributed across 30 schools.

“I feel very proud to reach out and help my community,” said Yadira Reyes-Manzo, 41, a food handler at Arbuckle Elementary School from Alum Rock Union School District.

Food handlers from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services at Anderson Elementary School in South San José, sort out food for curbside grab-and-go meals while wearing personal protective equipment earlier this summer.

“In the end, we at Alum Rock stopped being a community. We have become a big family,” according to Reyes-Manzo.

School districts like Alum Rock Union are now transitioning to Fall food distribution and school districts are beginning to roll out meal programs to continue providing meals for students.

Fall food distribution will vary per school district, but the goal remains the same – feeding students safely and efficiently.

“Across the board all schools have transitioned to only distributing meals to students enrolled at their sites,” said Nicholas Georgoff, an Acting Recreation Supervisor with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, coordinating with school district meal programs in response to COVID-19.

School districts across San José will continue curbside meal programs into the Fall to support students adjusting to distance learning.

“The first day of Fall [food] distribution will be their first day of school which varies for each school district,” added Georgoff.

With the shifting focus from all ages meal distribution to student-only meals, each respective school district will begin implementing new procedures and policies for the 2020-2021 school year.

It is always important to be informed about your local school district’s meal program, especially now as we venture into the new normal of ‘virtual classrooms’.

Here are some known meal program details released by San José school districts for their enrolled students:

• Alum Rock Union School District – Alum Rock Union will offer free breakfast, lunch, and dinner grab-and-go meals for students at 12 different locations, Monday to Thursday, beginning Aug. 18 until Dec. 18. 
• Berryessa Union School District – Berryessa Union’s curbside meals will be available for pick up on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays only. Additional grab-and-go breakfasts will be offered during lunch service and meal costs will vary per student according to their eligibility under the National School Lunch Program. Submit a free-and-reduced lunch application today. 
• Cambrian School District – Cambrian School district will provide breakfast and lunch daily, beginning Aug. 19. Meals will be available for pickup at Price Middle School, Monday to Friday, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Online meal payments and free-and-reduced meals are available online.  
• Cambrian Union High School District – Cambrian Union is offering grab n’ go meals at each CUDSH school site through a mobile app ordering system, beginning Aug. 12. Students not enrolled in the ‘no-cost’ meal program can purchase meals at normal school prices. Pre order your school lunch today.   
• East Side Union High School District – East Side Union will provide grab-and-go lunches and dinners at select school sites, Monday to Friday, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Students that qualify for ‘reduced priced meals’ are now eligible for free meals, as part of the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program. Students must have their barcode to pick up meals.   
• Evergreen School District – Evergreen School District's curbside pick-up meals will be available every school day at your child’s school of attendance on weekdays, beginning Aug. 19. Meal costs vary depending on eligibility requirements and student ID cards/barcode are required. Submit a free-and-reduced lunch application today.   
• Franklin-McKinley School District – Parents/guardians can pick up meals starting Aug. 17 by presenting their child’s student ID number, name, and home school site. Meals will be offered daily including breakfast for the next day, lunch, a snack, and supper. Meal costs will be charged to student accounts and you can also submit a free-and-reduced lunch application online.   
• Oak Grove School District – Oak Grove School District will be serving bag breakfast and lunch meals to students, starting Aug. 12 during distance learning from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at select sites. Parents can pick up meals by providing student names and ID  when picking up meals. Meals will be charged to the student account. Submit a free-and-reduced lunch application online or at a drive-through pickup site.    
• Orchard School District – Orchard School District will be providing meals via drive-thru pick up, beginning Aug. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meal costs vary per student and you can submit a free-and-reduced lunch application online.   
• San Jose Unified School District – San Jose Unified will offer three free grab-and go breakfasts and lunches every Monday and two free breakfasts and lunches every Thursday for students who qualify for free or reduced-priced meals. Starting on Aug. 17, parents must present a student ID card or ID number to pick up meals. You can also submit a free-and-reduced lunch application online.   
• Union Elementary School District – Union Elementary School District's grab n’ go meals will be available at Dartmouth Middle School on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Submit a free-and-reduced lunch application online.    

All information is current as of August 18 and was compiled from the respective school district’s websites.   

If your school district is not currently listed above, please contact your school district or visit their website for the latest information regarding Fall food distribution.  

For more information on how you can access and find food resources in your neighborhood, visit bit.ly/SCCFoodMap.  #SiliconValleyStrong #SVEats #KeepSVHealthy