Loudoun Schools Reach 1 Million Meals Since Start Of Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Public Schools system served its 1 millionth meal Wednesday since starting a food distribution program in the county on March 13 in response to the closure of schools due to the coronavirus crisis.

Meal service is provided at 28 school walk-up sites and 245 bus stops. The program is a partnership between the School Nutrition Services and Transportation divisions, both of which are part of the LCPS Support Services Department.

“LCPS has demonstrated a community care approach during the COVID-19 pandemic,” LCPS Superintendent Eric Williams said Thursday in a statement. “Community care includes caring for each and every community member, including those who face food insecurity."

Working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program, LCPS will continue to support families by providing breakfast and lunch to all children 18 years of age and under through the month of August.

LCPS's School Nutrition Services has 90 to 95 of its workers providing meal service each week. They are assisted by 45 custodians and 16 substitute teachers who were placed in the program by the LCPS Human Resources and Talent Development Department.

“When others were avoiding contact with the public out of fear for their own safety, many School Nutrition Service administrative staff and workers chose to rise above their own fears and report to work daily to provide meals for the children of Loudoun County,” School Nutrition Services Director Elizabeth Mills said.

From the transportation division, 355 drivers and bus attendants, 22 lead drivers, 10 bus driver instructors, six dispatchers and seven office staff have worked on the meals program.

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