By Elysse James
Capistrano Unified is providing thousands of meals to children in the area every weekday while schools are closed.
The district already is distributing breakfast and lunch at eight campuses, and starting Thursday, March 26, will be providing meals at Marblehead Elementary School in San Clemente, Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel, and Castille Elementary School in Mission Viejo as well.
Capistrano Unified has served 18,432 meals this week — that’s 6,144 children receiving two meals a day, said Kristin Hilleman, director of food and nutrition services. The district has distributed 34,355 meals since the service began last week.
CUSD food and nutrition services provided a total of 5,290 meals on Monday and 8,026 meals on Tuesday. The sites that handed out the most meals were San Juan Elementary School and Marco Forster Middle School serving 1,450 and 1,480 children, respectively.
“It’s what we do every day. We feed kids,” Hilleman said. “This is just something special. Our food nutrition services team is amazing… Not all heroes wear capes, some wear aprons. That’s our people.”
Click here for more information on the curbside meal program.
To reduce contact, drivers are asked to open their trunk or to lower the window next to an empty seat where the food can be placed. To pick up a meal from the district’s drive-through sites from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, the children age 18 or younger must be present.
“Our employees are on the front lines and we’re trying to keep them safe,” Hilleman said.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KfSRmpAXD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The district is closed until April 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meals are being offered at the following campuses:
San Juan Elementary School, 31642 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Marco Forster Middle School, 25601 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Las Palmas Elementary, 1101 Calle Puente, San Clemente, CA 92672
Hidden Hills Elementary, 25142 Hidden Hills Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
RH Dana Elementary School, 24242 La Cresta, Dana Point, CA 92629
Wood Canyon Elementary School, 23431 Knollwood, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Las Flores Elementary School, 25862 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Carl Hankey K8 School, 27252 Nubles, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Starting on Thursday, March 26:
Marblehead Elementary School, 2410 Via Turqueza, San Clemente, CA 92673
Marian Bergeson Elementary School, 25302 Rancho Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Castille Elementary School, 24042 Via La Coruna, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
More about how Capistrano Unified continues to prepare for and prevent COVID-19:
As classrooms go virtual, CUSD teachers are prepared
Kaiser Pediatrician talks COVID-19 with Capistrano Unified
Capistrano Unified serves lunch, breakfast to 6,705 kids and counting
Capistrano Unified Principals engage students virtually during COVID-19 closures
Social distancing for kids in the age of COVID-19, Capistrano Unified shares resources
Capistrano Unified serves more than 1,000 free meals during COVID-19 school closure
Capistrano Unified offers students free curbside lunches during COVID-19 school closures
Capistrano Unified Closes Schools Amidst Global Coronavirus Concerns
No coronavirus cases in Capistrano Unified; district prepares