Burbank Unified prepares for 5-day meal-kit distribution
In Luther Burbank Middle School’s cafeteria, Burbank Unified food service workers wearing face masks and gloves walked through an assembly loop packaging five-day meals in plastic bags Tuesday morning.
They are in the process of refining a food prep and distribution system that began last week on March 16 in response to the district shutting down schools to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
On that first day, food service workers assembled 1,200 meal kits packed with five days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches.
Burbank Unified School District prepares for weeks of grab-and-go meal services for eligible students.
The meal kits are available for Burbank Unified students eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals. The kits were distributed the following Tuesday and Wednesday.
Shari Burkhart, the district’s food service field supervisor, said pick-up locations are set up as drive-throughs, where families can roll down their car windows to receive meal kits.
Out of 15,203 students across the district, about 37% are from low-income families and qualify to receive free or reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches from school.
“We are communicating directly to families via mail, email, text and phone calls with the details. We want to respect their privacy so we will not publish times and locations on our websites,” said Supt. Matt Hill in an email.
This week, the district plans to distribute another 1,200 five-day meal kits on Wednesday at three school sites, even though students are scheduled for spring break.
“Typically, we wouldn’t offer meal service during spring break, but we are because we have to do what’s important right now,” said Kathy Sessinghaus, Burbank Unified’s food service director, alluding to long wait times and empty shelves in grocery stores.
There are about 95 staff members in the district’s food services department, and about a third came to work.
“The communication that I have put out, through the blessing of human resources and Hill, is — if they’re able to come to work ... we will do our best to maintain social distancing in the workplace,” Sessinghaus said.
Employees who are 65 years old and older or have a compromised immune system are recommended to stay at home.
When asked if employees who are staying at home due to age, health or need to take care of their children will be paid as usual, Hill responded, “We will work through each situation with our employees. We have received an eight-page guidance document that discusses leaves based on their situation.”
Although cafeteria workers already have hygiene procedures in place, they are trying to limit handling the food and instead focus on prepackaged items to reduce exposure. They also maintain a recommended 6-foot distance from each other while working.
Sessinghaus said she’s turning away people offering to volunteer because adding more people would create a larger gathering, which is not recommended by public health officials.
“I am hearing stories of people in other school districts who are coming through the lines multiple times around to the different sites,” Sessinghaus said.
“There’s rumors that people are selling the food that they’re getting. I would just hope that everybody who comes to us and needs food is truly in need of the food,” she added.
For questions about food distribution, Burbank Unified recommends calling (818) 729-4539.
