We would like to give you an update on how Feeding Our Kids is planning to operate as the new school year is about to begin.
To give context, Feeding Our Kids serves 9 different school districts and independent schools. Since each of these are making their own plans for remote vs in-person learning as well as meal distribution plans, and many of these plans are still being finalized, our own plans are also still rather fluid.
That being said, we are planning on serving close to 1200 children once all schools have started, and will do everything we can to get food to these kids one way or another.
Here are some aspects of operations that do look certain:
- There will be 3 sorts/packs per week
- The Champaign Church of Christ community will do their sorts on Sunday afternoons
- We will run our volunteer sorts on Monday evenings (5-7 PM) and Tuesday afternoons (3-5 PM)
- Volunteer activities will continue to have number limits and similar restrictions to limit any risk of COVID-19 spread
- Deliveries to the schools will happen on Wednesdays this year (not Thursday as in the past). This will allow more time for the bags to be distributed.
- Small sorts (2 per week) are currently underway as they have been all summer
- The longer sorts, and 3 per week, may begin as soon as the last full week of August
We hope to have more concrete plans later this week as we have further discussions with the schools.
Also, throughout this week, we will be posting volunteer sign-ups including:
- Sort/packing events
- Delivery drivers
- Opportunities for “isolated” volunteers; our supporters that want to help, but are unable to come and participate in group activities
- Coming to the church at an off time as an individual (or a couple/household) to work alone on small tasks such as cleaning/organizing sort rooms or counting inventory
- Helping us with tasks you can do at home like making phone calls or editing documents
As always, we are incredible grateful for your continued support of Feeding Our Kids. We ask that you please be patient with us as we try to plan and navigate through these unprecedented and difficult times.
Thank you so much!
Matthew A. Hausman
Executive Director