Baldwin Park Unified continues to ensure every child has access to healthy, nutritious meals – despite school closures prompted by the COVID-19 virus – through its curbside meal distribution plan.
The District has served nearly 250,000 meals between March 16 and April 22, when the District enacted school closures on the recommendation of county and state officials.
Meals are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Bursch Elementary School (4245 Merced Ave.), Jones Junior High School (14250 Merced Ave.) and Baldwin Park High School (3900 Puente Ave.).
Monday distribution provides meals for two days; Wednesday distribution covers three days. All meal services are drive-through, ensuring parents can remain in their cars and limit contact with others. Students do not need to be present when parents collect their meals.
“It is paramount for our families to know that we will continue to provide meal distribution services as long as our schools are closed due to the COVID-19 virus,” Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza said. “It is a trying time for everyone, but the Baldwin Park community has shown time and again they can rise to any challenge with passion and empathy. This is who we are and we will get through this together.”
Meals are prepared exclusively by Baldwin Park Unified Nutrition Service employees. Each site is staffed by eight kitchen workers and one nutrition supervisor.
District and site administrators, staff and volunteers from various organizations have assisted by personally handing out food to families, led by Superintendent Mendoza, who has been helping with meal distribution at Jones Junior High and Baldwin Park High School.
“My heart aches with pride to see Dr. Mendoza greeting each family. He welcomes each car with a big smile,” Director of Nutrition Services Rosa Estrella said. “I would like to thank MaryAnn Curiel and Alberto Pineda for their tireless efforts in scheduling staff, purchasing food and ensuring members are properly trained. Every single Nutrition Services member is an all-star. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Students received three days’ worth of meals on April 10 to provide for the week of Spring Break, April 13-17.
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BPUSD_MEALS: Baldwin Park Unified’s Special Education Department, psychology services, custodial staff, school police and Business Department assisted Nutrition Services in serving more than 700 students at Baldwin Park High School on March 25.