Vernon Free School Meal Program Up And Running During Closures

VERNON, CT — It was Day 1 of Week 1 of the school closures related to the coronavirus and parents were taking full advantage of free meals for local students.

Cars began lining up about 15 minutes early on Monday at Vernon Center Middle School and, by 9:30, a half-hour into into the program, school officials were well on track toward giving out the 100 meals already prepared.

On March 10, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, "If Schools are closed, we are going to do our very best to make sure kids are fed." That translated into the Vernon public school system setting up shop at the middle school to hand out both breakfast and lunch.

A drive-up lane was set up on the side of the building, which is used as a regional shelter in times of crisis. Vernon Town Admistrator Michael Purcaro, who doubles as the town's emergency management director, said the handouts were based on systems already in place for emergency supply distribution.

Vernon Superindendent of Schools Joseph Macary said the school system will gauge how many meals it would likey need daily based on Monday's results. He added, if necessary, a system will be put in place to feed students whose parents cannot get to the middle school.

More federal funding could be put in place to keep the meals going for a sustained period of time, said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, who was home in Vernon on Monday and stopped by VCMS to see how the distribution was going.

Courtney said the U.S. House of Representatives voted at 1 a.m. Saturday to approve an $8.3 billion relief package related to the coronavirus, which includes a provision for more school meals during closures.

The Senate should vote on the package this week, Courtney said.

One resident with two elementary school children in the car said she depends on school meals during the week because they are affordable, or in the case of Monday, free. She called the meal distribution a welcome relief.

Another resident described himself as a teacher in a state magnet school who was getting prepared for the online learning experience. He said he had multiple children at home, so already-prepared meals relieved some of the stress at home over what to serve the kids.

Meals are being served from 9 to 11 a.m. at VCMS. The schedule could change based on need, Macary said.

Vernon served a total of 129 breakfasts and lunches Monday.