Kzoo Public Schools providing free meals for students during closure

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo Public Schools is setting up an emergency food distribution system to give children within the district breakfast and lunch during the state-mandated closure.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer order all K-12 schools to close for three weeks Thursday night to slow the spread of COVID-19.

To help students who rely on school meals to eat, KPS is setting up a program to provide for those children.

Food will be distributed at 20 schools and four community sites from March 16 to April 3. Seven days of breakfast and lunch will be handed out over three days each week in a “grab and go” setting where students will pick up food to eat at home.

Students will get two days of meals on Mondays and Wednesdays and three days of meals on Fridays. Distribution points will be near a parked school bus at school sites and a KPS food service van at other locations.

Food can be picked up from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at all KPS school buildings except Greenwood, Indian Prairie and Winchell elementary schools, the Alternative Learning Program and S Westnedge School.

There will also be distribution sites at:

• 1037 Interfaith Blvd. from 11:30 a.m. to noon
• Eastside Neighborhood Association at 1301 E Main St. from 11:30 a.m. to noon
• Fox Ridge Apartments at 1320 Fox Ridge Dr. from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• New Village Park at 2500 St. Albans Way from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Meals are free to all children 18 and younger and to people up to 26 who are enrolled in an educational program for mentally or physically disabled. No application or proof of income is required.

Anyone with questions can call 269-337-0458.