More than 400 families pick up free meals from area school district

RIVERSIDE — More than 400 families in the Mad River Local School system picked up free meals Friday.

The meal bags help feed students who are at home all day over the summer.

News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott was there as cars pulled up and filled up with donations.

>> Judge finds Abby Michaels not guilty on all counts for wrong-way crash that killed 3 in 2019

A steady stream of cars kept workers busy as they gave families bags and bags of food to help them over the summer.

Subrina Russell, the food service secretary for the district, said families are appreciative and the program gives them food security.

“A family of eight and she said that they were actually living in a hotel right now and they didn’t get the keys to their other apartment until I think next Wednesday. So she said it was like a great, great help,” Russell said.

Three different locations handed out meals.

In less than an hour, all locations were out of bags.

Russell says the use an honor system to determine if cars that pull up qualify for meal bags, so unfortunately people can try and take advantage.

She said the only other way to verify would be to go through a list of all 3,500 students’ names.

“That would also slow the line down, and we’re trying to get our students in and out,” she said. “So we really, really really want the family to be honest with us and tell us if they do or do not go in the district.”

For families who missed the donations this Friday, Russell said they will have another chance since the meals will be given out nearly every friday this summer.

1 of 7