Free Lunch For Stratford Students During Coronavirus Closure

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford announced Friday a plan to ensure students get the meals they need while public schools are closed during the new coronavirus outbreak.

“It is important to all of us that our children are safe, continuing to learn, and are healthy,” Janet Robinson, superintendent of Stratford Public Schools, said in a town news release.

Stratford officials announced plans to close all schools Thursday — the same day they confirmed that a Wilcoxson Elementary School student had been diagnosed with the new coronavirus. Officials announced Saturday that a Stratford High School student may have the virus as well. Students and staff from both schools have been asked to stay home and monitor their health.

Bagged lunches will be available 11 a.m. to noon starting Monday and every weekday while schools are closed. Meals will be provided as grab-and-go, and families will not be permitted to remain on premises to eat. The plan was developed in partnership with the Town of Stratford, Sterling House Community Center, Stratford Public Schools and the South End Community Center.

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“I am tremendously thankful to our community partners for working alongside us in these challenging and unusual circumstances to ensure families who are in need of the food services provided by our school system do not have to go without during our closure of the public school system,” Hoydick said in the news release. “This collaboration in an emergency and the spirit of people helping people is part of what makes Stratford unique and wonderful.”

The meals will be free and available to all Stratford students, Sterling House Program and Outreach Director LeAnne Reynolds confirmed. Feeding sites will be at the following locations:

• Franklin Elementary School, 1895 Barnum Ave.
• Nichols Elementary School, 396 Nichols Ave.
• Johnson House, 719 Birdseye St.
• Sterling House Community Center, 2283 Main St.
• South End Community Center, 19 Bates St.

The lunches will be provided by Sodexo, the district’s school food service.