By Elise Tran
HBUHSD will provide lunch services for students starting Wednesday, March 18.
The Grab and Go meals are available to students from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Ocean View High School and Westminster High School, according to an email Principal Morgan Smith sent out on Tuesday, March 17.
Students must be present, but do not need any paperwork or ID. The meals must be consumed offsite.
According to Ed-Data, just under 6,000 students from HBUHSD were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the 2018-2019 school year.
“Free lunch at school really helps me because I never really have food to pack at home,” a junior who asked to remain anonymous said. “I can’t count the number of times it’s saved me from a growling stomach in class.”
Multiple surrounding school districts, including Garden Grove, Irvine and Long Beach, have started a meal program for students during the recently announced school closures.
“The Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) is offering a free drive-through and walk-up meal program beginning Monday, March 16 to help ensure that children have access to nutritional meals when school is not in session,” an announcement from GGUSD about an expanded emergency meal program said.
The meal programs are at no cost and most districts are only offering meals to children ages 18 and under. Some districts, such as the Long Beach Unified School District, are offering free meals to students regardless of the school that they attend.
School districts, such as GGUSD and Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), are implementing a drive-through system to serve the lunches.
“Service will be provided…using a “drive thru” system to support social distancing and safety,” a statement sent out by IUSD said.
This is a developing story. Baron Banner will continue updating when we have more information.
March 17, 1:15 p.m.: updated to include information from Smith’s email
