Both Portland Public Schools and Catlin Gabel School strive to provide meal support for families during COVID-19

By Margot Camp ‘23

Courtesy of Pexels

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Portland Public Schools (PPS) has worked to find ways to provide meals to those students who need them. Many students who attend public schools rely on the school for meals during the week.

According to the PPS website, students can pick up meals from certain campuses of Head Start preschools as well as elementary, middle and high schools on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 3 to 5 p.m. 

The students are provided with breakfast and lunch for the whole week. There is a schedule showing families what meals are available that also has information about vegetarian options or low-sugar options. 

PPS provides an application for free or reduced meals on their website as well as a printable paper application that can be submitted by mail. 

So how does this compare to what Catlin Gabel School (CGS) is doing to provide students in need with meals and snacks? 

CGS Assistant Head of School Barbara Ostos shared the school's approach to offering a similar meal program as PPS. 

“There are some families that would qualify for essentially free or reduced lunch in public schools, and those families receive as part of their financial assistance from CGS either free or reduced Barn [CGS’ cafeteria] bills,” said Ostos. 

That plan would consist of one snack and one full lunch meal per student per day. The money another family might usually pay for that food is then deducted from the family’s  monthly tuition bill. 

Since March, when CGS started remote learning, families who would usually receive these snacks and meals were credited back the dollar amount from their monthly bill. 

“We really have continually tried to support families who rely on that [the meal plan] for their children,” said Ostos. “In this environment, we want to make sure that we continue to support those families in similar ways although right now that's just a matter of dollars versus the actual food.” 

CGS continues to work with families to see how they can help them in the ways they need.