CORVALLIS — If there was any question about demand for food during the COVID-19 outbreak, it's answered by the turnout already showing up at local schools.
More than 200 students showed up to get meals in the Corvallis School District on just the second day of food for kids not in school -- and that doesn't include the additional meal "backpacks" provided from the Montana Food Bank Network to get the kids through the weekend.
The district is doing handouts Tuesdays and Thursdays, limiting to 2-days to lessen contact and starting early to keep food cold.
"So food insecurity in Montana is a bigger problem than people realize. In this school district 42-percent of our kids are on free or reduced. That means 4 out of every 10 are possibly food insecure in their homes. And so we want to make sure that kids stay healthy and the healthy part of that is proper nutrition," said Kathy Martin, Corvallis School's Food Service Manager.
Martin praises the Montana Food Bank Network and Office of Public Instruction for helping to get the food distribution going quickly.
The district is using its own food service staff and supplies to ensure safety, but says people who'd like to help the effort are welcome to donate cash through the Montana Food Bank Network. More information on the food distribution is available on the Corvallis School District Facebook page, here.
