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Educating students is the main goal of school districts, but the coronavirus outbreak has caused another need to move to the forefront: Food. Across North Texas, families of students who never received free or reduced meals are finding themselves in need of such help. In addition to health concerns, the coronavirus has led to school closures, job losses, reduced working hours and anxiety about grocery stores that are no longer fully stocked.
Like other districts across the area, Richardson ISD is distributing food to students even though schools are closed indefinitely — until it is deemed safe to reopen them.
Last week, the district distributed a total of 62,079 meals, according to figures presented during Monday’s school board meeting. To serve as many students as possible, the district switched to its summer meal program. That allows all students, not just those on free or reduced meal programs, to receive meals.
Richardson ISD is distributing the meals at 14 schools and 11 apartment complexes, according to its website. Any student 18 and under is able to receive two meals for the day: breakfast and lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at various locations Monday through Friday. Both meals are able to be picked up at the same time.
Starting Monday, April 6, parents will be required to show a form of verification such as a school-issued student ID, report card, birth certificate, or a district verification message emailed to all district parents on April 1, the district announced.
“We want to get out as many meals as possible, but we also want to document that they are picking them up for students,” Superintendent Jeannie Stone said during a school board meeting Monday held via a videoconference.
Parents picking up meals with a child are not required to provide proof.
Child nutrition workers are meeting every morning at 6 a.m. and volunteers are also working tirelessly to serve kids.
“They are just the heroes, I would say, of this group,” Stone said during the meeting.
She also said the district will eventually be reimbursed for all meals provided as long as state guidelines are followed.
The district has provided a map and a list of where the meals are available:
Two to-go meals are available Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the following school locations:
- Audelia Creek Elementary, 12600 Audelia Road, Dallas,TX 75243
- Bukhair Elementary, 13900 Esperanza Road, Dallas, TX 75240
- Forest Lane Academy, 9663 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75243
- Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet, 8301 Towns Lane, Dallas, TX 75243
- Mark Twain Elementary, 1200 Larkspur Drive, Richardson, TX 75081
- Merriman Park Elementary, 7101 Winedale Drive, Dallas, TX 75231
- Northrich Elementary, 1301 Custer Road, Richardson, TX 75080
- O. Henry Elementary, 4100 Tynes Drive, Garland, TX 75042
- Richardson High School, 1250 W. Belt Line Road, Richardson TX 75080
- RISD Academy, 13630 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75240
- Stults Road Elementary, 8700 Stults Road, Dallas, TX 75243
- Thurgood Marshall Elementary, 9666 Ferris Branch Blvd., Dallas, TX 75243
- Wallace Elementary, 9921 Kirkhaven Drive, Dallas, TX 75238
- Westwood Junior High, 7630 Arapaho Road, Dallas, TX 75248
Two to-go meals are available Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the following apartment complexes:
- Bosque Estates Apartments, 9655 Chimney Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75243
- La Mirada Apartments, 901 S. Coit, Richardson, TX 75080
- Lavera at Lake Highlands, 9842 Audelia, Dallas, TX 75238
- Linear on Esperanza Apartments, 13450 Esperanza, Dallas, TX 75240
- Newport Landing Apartments,10850 Walnut Hill, Dallas, TX 75238
- Northgate Village Apartments, 12303 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75243
- Sienna Springs Apartments, 9455 Skillman, Dallas, TX 75243
- St. Croix Apartments, 12250 Abrams Road, Dallas TX 75243
- Sun Colony Apartments, 10075 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX 75238
- The Link, 9450 Forest, Springs, Dallas, TX 75243
- The Vineyards at the Ranch, 9350 Skillman, Dallas, TX 75243