CONTACT: For Immediate Release
Shannon Haber, 213-393-1289 April 8, 2021
Los Angeles Unified Will Provide Students with Meals at School Sites As Schools Begin to Reopen
- Nation’s largest school-based relief effort has provided more than 122 million meals along with 26 million items of much-needed supplies
- Superintendent Austin Beutner recognizes hard work and dedication of employees and community partners
LOS ANGELES (April 8, 2021) – The Los Angeles Unified School District announced today that as students are returning to the classroom, the district will be transitioning its food-relief efforts back to a school-based meal program focused on children.
When school campuses closed, hundreds of thousands of children counted on Los Angeles Unified for nutritious meals each day at school. In less than a week, the district set up a food-relief effort that has since provided children and adults with more than 122 million meals along with 26 million items of much-needed supplies.
“Fortunately, Los Angeles Unified was joined in this effort by businesses, individuals and philanthropic organizations who understood the need,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “They contributed money and in-kind donations totaling almost $40 million to LA Students Most in Need, the charitable fund we created to help provide a safety net for the school community. This nation-leading effort is a great reminder of what can be accomplished when we all work together to help those in need.”
April 9th will be the last day for 22 of the school-based food centers and the remaining 41 sites will close on April 16th so Los Angeles Unified can provide meals as schools reopen and students return to campus.
“It has been our privilege to serve the community in this time of need. We will continue to do all we can to help the students and families in our schools,” Superintendent Beutner added.
Beginning the week of April 12th, students who return for in-person instruction will be provided multiple meals at school while students who continue with distance learning or their parents may pick up meals from walk-up tables at the open school sites.
Middle and high school students who continue in online learning or their family members may pick up student meals at their neighboring elementary school for the week of April 19-24, and meals may be picked up from the students’ middle and high schools starting April 26th.
As Grab & Food Centers close, adults will no longer be eligible to pick up meals at Los Angeles Unified schools. Those in need of food assistance may visit this Los Angeles Unified website for information about alternative sites for food assistance.