School Closings

[rps]

Boston, including the school system for which my daughter works, has closed its schools until April 27. They are not the only such school system. Nationwide hundred of thousands of families will be affected.

Pray for those children who depend on school lunches and school backpack programs and will be hungry. Pray for the working families that now will need to make arrangements for child care.

If you live in an area where the schools close, do what you can for the children.

 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Yesterday, the governor of Illinois closed all schools in the state.  

[slothman]

We had our last day of school today until at least April 6. There is a lot of speculation that it could last longer than that, possibly even for the rest of this school year. We are going to attempt to use google classroom to provide instruction to the students to that have internet access. 

[Johnsfolly]

The schools closed here on Monday. My business is considered a critical business so we will do what we can to stay open. We are shifting schedules and having those folks that can work from home to do so. The others are to try and work such that they distance each other. Not sure how well that will work but we will see. All internal meetings ate to done via conference call or Skype.

I think that MD has a meal program for kids that won't have enough to eat at home. Could be wrong.

[rps]

As more and more schools close, including where I taught in Arkansas, most schools are trying to establish programs to feed the children. Very few address all the needs. Most are feeding by sack lunch once a day. Very few off breakfast as well. Many require the student or parents to go to the school each day to pick up the lunch, but offer no bus service to accomplish this. Back pack programs that send students home with weekend food are not included or continued.

In some places local places are offering food as well on a no questions asked basis. Sadly, these gifts suffer the same problems.

WIC and EBT do not permit food delivery, even if you could find a service for the kids that live a mile or two down a gravel road.If you are down that same gravel road and know a family you suspect relies on school lunches for the children, think about dropping off a casserole.

 

[fishinwrench]

I don't exactly agree with the whole food thing (delivering lunches and restaurants doing drive thru, ect.). 

I mean if someone is preparing your food then you might as well hug and kiss them.   I understand that in every community there are a few kids that might not get to eat when they don't go to school, but there are better/smarter ways to help them.  In our area they still have to drive to the school to pick up their lunch.   If you can afford to drive a vehicle every day then you can afford to feed a couple kids.   No?

[Devan S.]

39 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I don't exactly agree with the whole food thing (delivering lunches and restaurants doing drive thru, ect.). 

I mean if someone is preparing your food then you might as well hug and kiss them.   I understand that in every community there are a few kids that might not get to eat when they don't go to school, but there are better/smarter ways to help them.  In our area they still have to drive to the school to pick up their lunch.   If you can afford to drive a vehicle every day then you can afford to feed a couple kids.   No?

I think that is his point exactly. IF you know someone that is likely in that situation and cant get there maybe take them a casserole. The whole help your neighbor. 

 

Schools and businesses are trying to do what they can to help but there still may be some out there that are unreachable. 

[rps]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I don't exactly agree with the whole food thing (delivering lunches and restaurants doing drive thru, ect.). 

I mean if someone is preparing your food then you might as well hug and kiss them.   I understand that in every community there are a few kids that might not get to eat when they don't go to school, but there are better/smarter ways to help them.  In our area they still have to drive to the school to pick up their lunch.   If you can afford to drive a vehicle every day then you can afford to feed a couple kids.   No?

My knowledge in these areas is limited to what I learned in 17 years teaching in a town where more than half my students qualified for free or reduced lunches. To qualify the income can be no more than $16,000 a year plus some for each additional person in the house. People living on 16,000 to 20,000 a year rarely have reliable cars unless they know how to fix them by themselves. These people are working the bottom end or part time jobs. ($7.25 an hour X 40 = 290. 290 X 50 = 14,500) Most, not all, will have their hours shortened or suspended because of the problems. These are exactly the kind of people whose children are at risk.

I know many on this forum have known about having very little. Hopefully, all of them, through hard work and luck, are past that now.

Feed the children of those who are trapped and cannot get out.

[fishinwrench]

We know of a handful of kids that I'm sure eat better at school than they do at home.  But when you drive by their house the yard is trashed, they have 2-4 pit bulls, mom and dad can be found at the local bar 4 nights a week, and they never miss a concert or an event at the racetrack.     

It's certainly not the fault of the kids and we all feel bad for them, but society can't just keep picking up the tab for these losers.  It's hard for me to help the kids....but refrain from dragging their parents out of the bar and knocking their teeth out.

[snagged in outlet 3]

3 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

We know of a handful of kids that I'm sure eat better at school than they do at home.  But when you drive by their house the yard is trashed, they have 2-4 pit bulls, mom and dad can be found at the local bar 4 nights a week, and they never miss a concert or an event at the racetrack.     

It's certainly not the fault of the kids and we all feel bad for them, but society can't just keep picking up the tab for these losers.  It's hard for me to help the kids....but refrain from dragging their parents out of the bar and knocking their teeth out.

I was dropping off food at the food pantry one time and I came away with your attitude about it.  How can you pick up free food driving a new truck and smoking a cig?