MADISON — More than 1 million meals have been provided to Wisconsin students since the closure of K-12 school buildings because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to claims filed to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Since March 18, 447 school food authorities and sponsors in Wisconsin have provided meals through the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option and the Summer Food Service Program, which allow meals to be served free to children 18 and younger living in low-income areas.

For those unable to travel to meal pickup locations, the USDA grant-funded program, Emergency Meals-to-You, allows eligible local education authorities in rural areas to work with households to deliver meals directly to homes through the mail. Additionally, the USDA has launched an interactive map to help families locate sites where meals are being served when schools are closed. For the most up-to-date information on meal pick up or delivery, families should call or check their school district’s webpage. The USDA National Hunger Hotline also remains a helpful resource for families seeking food assistance. The hotline can be reached at 1-866-348-6479 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST.

The DPI has leveraged its many partnerships across the state to reach students and families in need. The department has received 21 nationwide waivers to date for its nutrition programs. In March, when public schools informed the department, they were nearing storage capacity to continue taking monthly food orders, USDA Foods products were rerouted from state warehouses to county food pantries throughout Wisconsin. Through the DPI’s partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to administer The Emergency Food Assistance Program, over 200,000 pounds of food have been distributed to families. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced it would provide more than $140 million in food benefits to families for March, April, May and a portion of June. The appropriation is part of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new national program providing assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures. 

Tthe DPI is seeking additional applicants to become sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program. To become a community partner, applications will be accepted through June 15. To apply, visit the Summer Food Service Program’s webpage.