Evan Brandt [email protected]
So many people turned out for the food being provided to borough school children Wednesday that pre-sorted supplies were quickly exhausted.
Staff worked all day Tuesday to prepare more than 8,000 meals sorted into groups of five breakfasts and five lunches.
One station was set up for walk-ups and another for delivery right into a vehicle.
People drove up, or walked up, said how many children lived in the house and were provided with 10 meals for each child for the week, the same they would have been eligible for when school is in session.
Many families arrived early and by 10 minutes after 12 p.m., the pre-sorted supplies at Lincoln Elementary School had been depleted.
"It went really fast," said Principal Calista Boyer.
Franklin Elementary Principal Mary Kramer said a similar scenario unfolded at her school.
But the district personnel rallied and improvised.
There was unsorted food still back at the high school so the small trucks rented for the occasion were used to bring more supplies back to the elementary schools, where additional tables were set up and boxes provided.
Those who had not yet received their food moved along the tables and sorted their own selection.
Rubber-gloved staff kept each family back until it was their turn, all being careful to keep their distance from each other and those picking up food.
"I thought it went pretty smoothly in terms of distribution and people being cooperative and friendly," said John Armato, the district's director of community relations, who visited all four sites, and tweeted photos out to the community.