Many students depend on free lunches and breakfast at their schools, so Aramark stepped in to provide them even with schools closed.
Many students depend on free lunches and breakfast at their schools, so Aramark stepped in to provide them even with schools closed.
Closing all Illinois schools put many students at risk of going hungry, but Aramark in Pekin is working with the school district to provide free meals.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker extended the school closures to April 30, and with many students dependent on meals at school Aramark stepped up.
Aramark Food Service Director Kelsi Wolfmeyer told 25-News WEEK that they’ve been helping in District 108 since the governor first closed schools on March 13.
“Their school work is supposed to be done at school, and their meals for breakfast and lunch are supposed to be at school but since we can't have that right now, this is a great way to do it," Wolfmeyer told 25-News.
Meal distributions started at Wilson Intermediate and Edison Junior High. After realizing how great the need was, they expanded the program.
Aramark packs approximately 1,200 lunches per day and any leftovers get donated to the Salvation Army. Aramark uses 17 buses to deliver food to schools, parks and churches. Anyone coming to those locations can get a free breakfast and lunch, she told 25-News.
District 108 prepared a map to show the areas where delivering food reaches the most people who need it in the community. Highly populated areas and places with higher poverty levels meet those guidelines.
The school district was glad to help the community with Aramark.
"I want them to know that Pekin 108 is there for them. That we care not only for their students, but for them as well,” Assistant Superintendent Leonard Ealey told 25-News.
Aramark indicated the company plans to distribute lunches while school closures continue. Distribution takes place Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.
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