Capistrano Unified Serves Free Meals During Coronavirus Shutdown

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Volunteers gathered on a chilly March morning to hand out breakfast to district families during the new coronavirus shutdown.

The closure, meant to last three-weeks, has just extended until April. Still, free lunches are served at specific locations within the 19 school district.

On Monday, outside Hidden Hills Elementary, lunches were handed out by volunteers. Cars drove up, and families gathered bags of apples or oranges, milk, carrots with hummus, string cheese and chips, and a cookie.

The schools were flung into emergency closure this week following the news of risk of infection from new coronavirus. Employees are volunteering to make lunches for the kids during school closure.

Many of the children rely upon the schools for healthy meals. Others find themselves struck by the crisis of the pandemic that has reached our county. All students are welcome to gather breakfast and lunch, weekdays, during this time of crisis.

According to the district, they filed a waiver weeks ago that allows them to serve all children and not just those on the free and reduced-price lunch plans. That advanced thought is working.

"We have had an outpouring of utter kindness from the community thanking us for making this available," said Kristin Hilleman, director of food and nutrition services for Capistrano Unified. "It's very kind of these people and shows that we are all in this together."

San Juan Elementary school served 281 lunches on Monday. Hidden Hills served 357, Las Palmas Elementary School served 209, and Marco Forster Middle School served 242.

Every meal includes milk, a grain, a protein, fruit, and vegetable. Sometimes, something special will be added, such as the shamrock cookie on St. Patrick's Day. "Every day will have something different," Shannon Illingworth, nutrition specialist from CUSD said. "Other times, kids may get frozen entrees like pizza, build your own nachos, or chicken sandwiches."

The district is using what they have, ready to go and wrapped. They are following sanitization guidelines and increasing both hand-washing and social distancing, they say.

To pick up a lunch or breakfast from the district's four drive-through sites from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, the children age 18 or younger must be present.

The sites are located at:

• San Juan Elementary and Marco Forster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano
• Las Palmas Elementary in San Clemente
• Hidden Hills Elementary in Laguna Niguel
• RH Dana Elementary School in Dana Point.

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How are you coping with the shut down in your town? Let your Patch Editor know by emailing: ashley.ludwig@patch.com

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