Community members step up so no one goes hungry in Troy Schools

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, there are many resources available to help students, families and neighbors. The Troy School District will continue to provide “grab and go” breakfasts and lunches for children to cover seven days a week (pick up days are M-W-F.) The District has also teamed up with Gleaners for two massive food distributions and holds its own grocery giveaway program called “Bridge the Gap" every Friday from 6-7:30pm. In addition, a TSD parent with a food truck has committed to serving hot meals every Thursday afternoon from 12-1pm. In order to streamline delivery and make it easier for recipients, all of these additional events are open to the entire community (not just those with children) and all take place at Morse Elementary, 475 Cherry, Troy.

The outpouring of support from across Troy and the greater SE Michigan area has been incredible. Schroeder Elementary parent Mandeep Singh is the owner of Seva Truck Michigan, whose mission is to serve free meals to communities in need in over 35 locations in Metro Detroit (https://sevatruck.org/sevatruck-michigan/.) He says this is truly a community effort. His partner, Athens alum Glenn Wygocki, takes time from his martial arts studio (RHAMMA Krav Maga) to help serve, and there are two other Troy families who have been volunteering with food prep. The Sikh Gurdwara in Rochester Hills lets Seva Truck use their kitchen as a commissary to prep and cook all the food. The end result is delicious hot meals served in drive-through fashion at Morse every Thursday (last week, they served nearly 300).

Other amazing community partners include Emergency Restoration, who has given countless products like paper towel and toilet paper, along with using their disinfecting services to help make sure the school’s cafeteria and storage facilities are sparkling clean. Crispelli’s Pizza regularly donates extra loaves of bread (by the hundreds) and Costco donates produce—this week, they donated 400 5-pound bags of oranges, which may be added to the Bridge the Gap packages or bagged and hung on the fence outside Morse for anyone who needs them. Fogo de Chao in Troy donated sandwiches, and Uncle Luke’s, Barry’s Bagels, Faith Lutheran Church, Big Beaver United Methodist Church, Grand Tavern of Troy, Jimmy Johns and Great Harvest Bread Company have all made substantial donations of food and supplies. The Troy Education Association, which represents Troy teachers, made a monetary donation to help organizers buy food for families. Countless other Troy residents and community members have donated through the online link www.tinyurl.com/TSDcares.

For more information about our food distribution programs or if you have products or services to donate, contact Troy Schools on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TroySchoolDistrict/.

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Photos courtesy of Troy Schools:

Seva1: the Seva Truck, owned by Mandeep Singh
Seva2: Seva Truck outside Morse

Seva3: Mandeep and partner Glenn Wygocki serving chilil