Dayton Elementary, the town’s exclusive drive-thru venue for delectable cuisine during the coronavirus outbreak, had a rush at quarter-to-noon on Friday for the chef’s choice: chicken tenders, carrots, bread, yogurt, strawberries and all the fixings.

Earlier in the week, as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her recommendation that schools close for four weeks to help combat the spread of the ever-pervasive viral pandemic, many schools knew of the consequences not directly in the headlines: as children stay home from class, many of them miss some of the only nutritious meals they have access to each day.

In Southeast Valley Community School District, about 45% of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunches.

“We tried to get this in place as soon as we could,” said Brian Johnson, superintendent of Southeast Valley and Prairie Valley Community School Districts

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Southeast Valley Superintendent Brian Johnson distributed meals at Dayton Elementary School. The district started the new program based loosely off their summer meal program with new drive-thru rules to reduce the potential transmission of the coronavirus.

Drivers line their cars along the curb and pull up one by one, using their socially-distanced hands to signal the number of meals they need to the delivery person. On their first day, the districts had prepared 325 meals — a number based on interest indicated through parent surveys.

The impromptu program available to anyone 18 and under, adapted from the school’s summer lunch program that allows kids to eat inside, was modified with input from county health officials to help reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19.

“A lot of planning and discussion has taken place between our schools and Webster County Public Health in order to make these necessary meal drop-offs happen,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer for Webster County Public Health. “Together we want to ensure that students in our communities are fed, but we also want to ensure fewer links in potential transmission of germs which means not having students and families lined up next to one another and having fewer hands touching food and containers.”

Utilizing a drop-off for student meals accomplishes that, she said.

But by feeding kids, the district is helping to reduce transmission of the virus through other avenues, too. When kids have food at home, families don’t need to venture out for it, reducing the likelihood of getting exposed or of exposing someone else.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Dayton’s newest “drive-thru,” which managed to open up just as the coronavirus pandemic shut other restaurant dining rooms down around Webster County, was just as busy as any other on Friday during the lunch rush.

Parents who work in critical fields during the national crisis are also able to focus more on their jobs and less on worrying about their kids having something to eat, the superintendent said.

“It’s all just woven together,” Johnson said.

In addition to the quality service through delivery, the program also expands the meal availability well beyond the residents of Gowrie and Dayton typically served during the summer. With two kitchens and four remote spots in each district, volunteers have also been loading up the school’s Suburbans to deliver to Callender, Harcourt, Burnside, Lehigh, Farnhamville, Callender and more.

“It gives you goosebumps, chills, to see how everyone comes together,” said Johnson in between running the food and tossing the milk cartons to students through car windows. “This is what I think makes rural Iowa so special. People come out in groves to help one another.”

Similar efforts will serve students in Fort Dodge Community School District starting next week.