Borough school district offering free meals to local students amid districtwide closure

WASILLA — The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is currently offering free meals to local students with 11 different schools as pick-up sites.

The district implemented the Grab n’ Go Meal Distribution program March 17 to accommodate the growing number of households losing income due to coronavirus closures, and students who are already a part of the school lunch program.

Students can pick up breakfast and lunch at participating schools weekdays from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. through March 30.

The meals are free and there are no income requirements. It’s open to all MSBSD students 18 and younger.

Teachers across the district have been calling parents to perform a needs assessment, according to MSBSD Public Information Officer Jillian Morrissey. She said the needs ranged from technology, needs like internet connectivity to essential services like meal programs.

Morrissey noted that the district is working with families who cannot access any of the 11 schools acting as distribution centers to find solutions. Since the district is only offering meals Monday through Friday, community partners like the Kids Kupboard are stepping up to help fill the gaps.

“We want to be able to provide this essential service for our community as long as we can,” Morrissey said.

The district’s widespread efforts to feed local students amid the coronavirus school closure is something they’ve never done to this degree. Morrissey said the closest they’ve been to this recent Grab n’ Go Meal Distribution program was during the aftermath of the 7.1 earthquake in November of 2018, serving meals to Houston with a mobile unit.

“This is uncharted waters,” Morrissey said. “This is a whole new level, just the volume of it is so much larger.”

Wasilla Middle School cafeteria employees Katrina Knee and Donia Roberts served over 200 meals to local students of all ages Wednesday.

Families from all walks of life brought their children to the school cafeteria to pick up breakfast or lunch, usually both since that was an option.

Morrissey said the district appreciates the various teachers and staff members’ efforts and willingness to help the community get through these times.

“I think everybody knows we’re all in this together. We’re parents and we’re grandparents... We are each other’s community,” Morrissey said. “We’re trying to find answers to everybody’s questions; and we may not have all of them, but we’re going to have to figure out these things together. We’re just thankful that people are willing to help out wherever they can.”

Morrissey said the district is looking to add a 12th distribution location,Trapper Creek Elementary School.

The district also provides nutritional accommodations for students with food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

For more information about Grab n’ Go Meal Distribution, call MSBSD Nutrition Services at 907-861-5100.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com