A “lunch bus” will deliver meals to children in Clermont County’s New Richmond Exempted Village School District this summer, officials said. It is the first bus of its kind in the district.
New Richmond typically hands out 300 to 500 meals a week during the summer months, according to a district news release. Officials believe that this number will increase with the Traveling Lions lunch bus.
For subscribers: How can you help students catch up after COVID-19 disorder? Schools focus on children’s emotions
The Clermont County School District serves more than 2,300 students in New Richmond Villages, Moscow Village, Monroe Township, Ohio Township, Pierce Township, Tate Township, and Washington Township, according to its website. Approximately 40% of the district’s students are eligible for free or discounted lunch.
“Thanks to the support of many individuals, we have arrived at this moment,” said the director of the student union John Frye in the press release. “Over two years ago, the Board of Education got a retired school bus for the unique second act as a Ride Lions Lunch Bus.”
The bus debuted at the Education Committee meeting in New Richmond on Monday. The district has been distributing prepackaged summer meals at dispensing points across the community for a number of years, but this is the first time food service staff have been able to collect and serve food from the bus, the statement said.
Meals are provided by the Ohio Department of Education Summer Food Service Program, and the district used a $ 10,000 grant from Connect Clermont to remodel the repurposed school bus and purchase equipment it needed, including a hand washing station.
Connection Point Church volunteers also helped with the project.
“They are selfless men and saw volunteering to remodel the bus as an opportunity to ‘serve the least of them,’” Connection Point Church pastor Robert Wooten said in the press release. Wooten is also a member of the New Richmond School Board.
May 21st marked the final day of school for New Richmond students, according to its website.