Lincoln Junior High in La Salle hosts final food drive of 2020

Lincoln Junior High School in La Salle conducted its final food drive of 2020 Wednesday as it will prepare for the school’s winter break.

Cars pulled up alongside the school as employees loaded boxes of food into the cars of those in need. The whole process takes about one minute to complete.

Wednesday’s items included groceries, such as cereal, milk, lunch meat, potatoes, soup, chilli, among others, to make sure children are not going hungry over break.

The boxes given Wednesday included enough food for 21 breakfasts and 21 lunches along with fresh fruit and vegetables.

The school has been hosting the food drives since the beginning of the pandemic as part of a Summer Food Service Program to help give food to those in need.

The weekly food drives average about 220 boxes of food given out to members of the community.

The program was extended first through Dec. 31 but has since been extended until June 2021.

The federal program allows the school to give food to anyone 18 and younger in the community. The children do not have to be students of the school. School officials don't take down names or check IDs.

La Salle Superintendent Brian DeBernardi said the program is great for individuals and helps children in the community, not just La Salle Elementary students.

“We take count and then we submit the quantity distributed to the federal government and they reimburse us on a per meal basis,” DeBernardi said.

This program allows for students in need from other schools and home schools to receive the help if needed.

The district plans to resume the food drives and the program after returning from winter break.