5,000 weekend meals distributed to students

Students in the Marion School District are now getting healthy meals even on days when school isn’t in session, thanks to a new program offered through the United States Department of Agriculture.

According to Victoria Phillips, the district’s assistant director of child nutrition, the program is designed to curb food insecurity during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Each Friday, all students in the district will leave school with two days’ worth of meals – enough for breakfast and lunch both Saturday and Sunday.

The district launched the program last weekend at its three magnet elementary schools. More than 5,000 meals were sent home with students. This week, the district will add its junior high and high school to the program, increasing the total of meals distributed to nearly 8,500.

“We hope to ensure all students have nutritious meals available through the weekend,” Phillips said. “Every single student who walks out the door will get meals.”

Phillips said the meals sent home will vary from week to week, but will usually include items such as mini-pancakes, croissants, sandwiches, fruit, milk, and vegetables. All food items meet USDA nutritional guidelines, she said.

With a growing enrollment of nearly 3,900 students, the Marion School District is committed to helping students develop the academic, social, and decision-making skills needed to become productive citizens in the rapidly changing technological world. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100