It wasn’t some sort of odd new greeting. It was his proper socially distanced way of letting food service worker Kim Holmes know how many meals he would be picking up for his children at home.

Being able to get those meals, a program the Southeast Valley Community School District began shortly after government orders closed the schools, has been a stress relief for the family.

“I work at the care center and my wife is an ER nurse,” Johnson said. “It helps us not worry about the kids getting food.”

The meals are available to anyone in the district under 18.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Tyler Johnson, of Dayton, signals the food service workers at the Dayton Elementary School Tuesday that he needs to pick up three lunches.

Andrea Johnson, of Dayton, was picking up five meals.

“I have four teenagers and one preteen,” she said. “They eat a lot.”

Without the meals?

“The kids would be on their own,” she said.

She said her family is enjoying the prepared meals.

“They love it,” she said.

Some families’ children walk up to collect their meal, but most drive up. Among those in the drive-up line Tuesday was Dayton Police Chief Nick Dunbar. He wasn’t there for food.

“I stopped by to see if they needed any dropped off,” he said. “If that’s the case just give me a call.”

One of the other benefits to being able to pick up the meals for many of the families is that it helps them extend the time their own food supply and budget lasts. There are parents in the district who may not be working. It’s also one less trip to a store with other people in it. In the district, about 45 percent of the students are qualified for free or reduced lunches.

“We spend a lot less on groceries,” Tyler Johnson said.

Kendra Ulicki, of Dayton, is also thankful the meals are available. She’s a nurse practioner at Community Health Center in Dayton.

“Their baby sitter would be preparing their lunch,” she said. “It’s very helpful. It’s the little things that matter.”

Holmes also gets to see some of the students she used to be able to see in person, from a safe distance. She’s all smiles during the curb side pickup.

“They smile, they say hi,” Holmes said “I think they’re glad, they tell us that they appreciate this.”

Meals are also distributed in Callender, Harcourt, Burnside, Lehigh, Farnhamville and Callender. District vehicles are used to bring the food to the students.

The meals are free to the students, but the staff does ask parents sign up online at the district’s website to provide an accurate count of how many are needed each day.

Fort Dodge

The Fort Dodge Community School District is also providing free lunches for all children ages 18 and under, regardless of where they go to school.

The lunches are available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on weekdays.

They can be picked up at Butler Elementary School, 945 S. 18th St.; Cooper Elementary School, 2420 14th Ave. N.; Duncombe Elementary School, 1620 Sixth Ave. N.; and Riverside Early Learning Center, 733 F St.