LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — School lunch lines in the cafeteria have become a distant memory for kids in the Las Vegas valley because of the coronavirus pandemic.
They were replaced by long lines of cars filled with kids and parents waiting at drive-thru food distribution centers for meals to replace those they normally received during school hours.
"The game plan was just get the meals out there, and get it started," said Lory Hayon, registered dietitian with the Clark County School District.
Hayon said the district has distributed more than 2.7 million meals at nearly three dozen locationssince the closure of schools in mid-March.
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District leaders knew there would be a high demand for food aid.
"We have a huge population that we're serving and, you know, across the district there's a great deal of poverty," Hayon said.
The Clark County School District plans to continue providing breakfast and lunch at all of their locations Monday through Friday through June 30.
Parents can find menus and details at ccsd.nutrislice.com.
Three Square Food Bank has pledged to continue food distribution services as long as is necessary during the pandemic.
CEO Larry Scott said the organization has been handing out more than 5,000,000 pounds of food a month since March.
"It's heartbreaking on one point," he said, "but then you feel a warmth knowing people are helping."
Scott said community support with food donations and volunteers has been phenomenal, but the food bank will need help to continue meeting the high demand for aid.
"We're having to purchase more food than ever before to meet the demand," he said.
Three Square has established a donation website to help streamline monetary donations.
Parents can find all of the Three Square food distribution sites at threesquare.org/help.
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