Michigan parents will be able to pickup school meals for their children during state-mandated closures after federal agencies approved alternative forms of lunch distribution Friday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the closer of all Michigan K-12 schools Thursday night after announcing new Michigan cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
All Michigan schools to close as coronavirus spreads, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a waiver from the Michigan Department of Education on Friday, March 13, allowing school lunches to be distributed without the requirement that students eat meals in a group setting or at school, according to a news release from state police.
Schools may now provide food to students at designated pickup locations or school bus stops, the state announced. The move will allow schools to continue providing children food while simultaneously promoting “social distancing,” one of the Center of Disease Control’s recommendations to limit the spread of COVID-19.
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The program is called Unanticipated School Closure SFSP, the news release stated.
“Schools and sponsors that participate in Unanticipated School Closure SFSP help ensure children do not experience a lapse in food security with schools being closed from March 16, 2020, through April 5, 2020,” the state announced.
Coronavirus closed the schools. Now volunteers are stepping in to help feed the students.
The Food Bank of Michigan could be another option to fill gaps for hungry children during the mandated school closure.
The food bank and its seven regional affiliates are working with the state Department of Education to approve a waiver to activate the Summer Feeding Program early, according to a food bank news release.
"Our immediate needs are startup funding and volunteers,” said Phil Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan in the release. “Our seven regional food banks are excellent at meeting the daily needs of our residents and families facing food insecurity. The issues surrounding the COVID-19 virus, however, substantially impact our ability to feed nearly a million more children and others during this national pandemic.”
The Food Bank plans to distribute meals to school-aged children by packaging food into boxes at its regional affiliates, working with schools to determine the right time to distribute food and communicating the time and location for families to pickup the meals. In addition, food bank trucks would start distributing the meal boxes.
Volunteers can call the Food Bank Council of Michigan at 517-485-1202 or visit www.fbcmich.org for donations.
VIEW UPDATES ON CORONAVIRUS IN MICHIGAN HERE
PREVENTION TIPS
Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:
What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:
- Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
- Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).
It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.
For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.