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Thousands of free meals distributed to west side Indianapolis school students

MSD Wayne program will continue during shutdown
Posted at 6:18 PM, Mar 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-25 18:18:34-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- Many Indianapolis-area school systems are doing what they can to keep students who need food-assistance from going hungry during spring break and the upcoming school shutdown.

On the Indianapolis west side, this is spring break in Wayne Township. The school system is providing free breakfasts and lunches for students.

Just as important, the meals program will continue as schools stay closed through April because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wayne Superintendent Dr. Jeff Butts was making the rounds Wednesday at the three sites where meals are distributed during spring break: Bridgeport, Chapelwood and Stout Field elementary schools. And there were plenty of takers.

"The line wound around the parking lot and back to Girls School Road the whole morning," said Butts on Facebook. "A quick calculation resulted in nearly 9,500 meals served today at our three sites by the amazing WT Child Nutrition team and administrators."

Children receive two breakfast meals and two lunches on Monday and Wednesday and one of each meal on Friday.

Beginning April 6, the program changes. Rather than going to a school for pickup, transportation and child nutrition staff will deliver meals at over 1,000 bus stops between the hours of 10:00 a.m and 12:00 p.m.. Specific times and locations can be found on the MSD Wayne website: http://www.infofinderi or here.

Meals will also be available under the outside canopy at the following elementary schools between 11:00 a.m. and Noon.

  • Bridgeport Elementary
  • Chapel Glen Elementary
  • Chapelwood Elementary
  • Garden City Elementary
  • Maplewood Elementary
  • North Wayne Elementary
  • Rhoades Elementary
  • Stout Field Elementary
  • Westlake Elementary

The Wayne meal service will continue as long as school are closed or the district transitions into summer vacation, at which time there is a summer meals program.