The West Contra Costa Unified School District will resume its free summer meal program at 15 school locations due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, district officials said Monday.
The district will be able to continue the meal program for youth age 18 and younger following an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it will extend the federal Summer Food Service Program, which reimburses program operators that serve free meals to children and teenagers.
The WCCUSD distributed more than 3 million meals between March and this month through the program.
“This is great news for WCCUSD families in this time of uncertainty and crisis, and ensures that children will not be without food during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting school building closures,” district Superintendent Matthew Duffy said.
Families participating in the program will not be required to show their student attends a school in the district or qualifies for free or reduced-cost meals, according to the district.
Meals will be distributed on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at De Anza, El Cerrito, Kennedy, Pinole Valley and Richmond high schools; Dejean, Helms, Hercules and Pinole middle schools; Bayview, Nystrom and Riverside elementary schools; and Montalvin Manor, Peres and Verde K-8 schools.