Salem Meals Programs Expanded For College Students, Those In Need

SALEM, MA — As students return to school learning on Sept. 14, the Salem Public Schools Food Service Department has developed a plan to keep serving those who will be going to school remotely this fall.

Starting on Sept. 14, students who are taking in-person classes will have breakfast and lunch served at their respective schools.

Parents of students who are going to school remotely can pick up meals at schools or have them delivered to certain locations in the city.

Breakfast and lunch will be distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday, with Monday and Wednesday packages including meals for two days and Fridays including three days' worth of meals.

Meals can be picked up between 3 and 4 p.m. at Bates, Carlton, Collins, Horace Mann, Saltonstall and Witchcraft Heights.

Breakfasts and lunches will be delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Pequot Highlands from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Rainbow Terrace from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Salem Heights from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and Loring Towers from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

The Salem Food Pantry will also offer groceries on Monday afternoons at the Bates School, Carlton School, Saltonstall School and Witchcraft Heights at a time to be determined; Wednesdays at Salem State University and Rainbow Terrace from 10 a.m. to noon; Fridays at Loring Towers, Pequot Highlands and Salem Heights from 9 to 10 a.m.; Saturdays (twice monthly) at Espacio/Palmer Cove from 10 a.m. to noon.

"The economic fallout of this pandemic has caused more and more families to become food insecure, threatening the health and well being of our residents and communities here in Salem," said Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry. "We are grateful for the partners and supporters who have positioned us to meet this greater demand with more services."

Salem State students, faculty, and staff are asked to show their ClipperCard to access food. City of Salem residents will be asked to complete a one-time registration form upon arrival. The pantry will not turn anyone away. Masks are required in Salem Pantry Pop-Ups and physical distancing procedures are in place.

"Unfortunately, colleges are not immune to the problem of food insecurity," said Salem State University President John Keenan. "Salem State is very aware of the increased financial pressures brought by the pandemic, and we are grateful that this partnership will play an even larger role as a valuable supplement to our student food pantry."

Those who are struggling for food should contact the Food Service Department at 978-740-1230, djeffers@salemk12.org or iperrin@salemk12.org.

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Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

(Scott Souza is a Patch Field Editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)