EDISON – Township public school bus drivers and aides will start taking prepared nutritious meals on the road this week for families who have been unable to travel to either of the high schools.
Schools Superintendent Bernard Bragen has said the Chartwells Food Services staff has done an “excellent” job preparing and packaging breakfast and lunches for pick up at John P. Stevens High School and Edison High School. Some 3,000 students are eligible for free and reduced lunches in the district.
Along with pick up, the meals will be delivered and distributed at a dozen locations around town.
Bragen and Mayor Thomas Lankey announced the increased efforts to get the meals out to families while students are learning remotely in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic on April 12.
The buses will travel to the designated locations and park for two hours and the proper spacing for social distancing will be observed and enforced to protect township families and the people distributing food.
“We know that there are residents who do not have the ability to travel to one of the high schools and get a nutritious meal and we are hopeful that this plan to expand access will help rectify this pressing problem,” Bragen said. “This food is for our community, to serve our students and their families. We will not turn anyone down that needs a meal.”
Lankey showed appreciation to the bus drivers and aides taking part in the important initiative.
“We have seen so many people come together with creative, outside the box thinking in these past weeks and Dr. Bragen’s leadership in this effort to provide increased access to nutritious meals for Edison families is a tremendous example of what we can do when we all work together,” Lankey said. “There is nothing more important than protecting ourselves, our friends and our neighbors during this terrible pandemic and our plan to get meals to those who need them most is a critical step in accomplishing those goals.”
The locations and times for food distribution begin on April 13. The times include morning stops from 10-11:30 a.m. and afternoon stops from 1-2:30 p.m.
South End locations provide service for Julius Engel Gardens, Middlesex Interfaith Partners at Amandla Crossing and Imani Homes, Kilmer Homes, Ozanam Shelter, Blueberry Village, and Imani Homes Triple “C” Housing communities.
The stops include Julius Engel Gardens – Willard Duhman Drive and Avenue C; Amandla Crossing, 100 Mitch Snyder Dr.; Kilmer Homes – 115 Truman Dr.; Blueberry Village at Wildberry Court near the rental office.
North End locations providing service for Greenwood Townhouses, Hilltop/Trafalgar Gardens, Beatrice Park Neighborhood, Colonial Square Townhouse, and Robert Holmes Gardens Triple “C” Housing.
The stops include Minnie B Veal Community Center Parking Lot – 1070 Grove Ave.; White Rock Baptist Church, 247 Nicholson Ave.; and Hilltop Apartments – Dayton Drive and Warren Drive (near building 7) communities.
For more information, visit www.edison.k12.nj.us/.
