Joliet school district serves 1 million meals

March 11 was a very special day in Joliet Public Schools District 86.

The Nutrition Services employees have now served over 1 million children meals since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020.

The Lozano family of Joliet received the millionth meal at Hufford Junior High School at approximately 11:40 a.m. The family was surprised with a Joliet District 86 goody bag, signs, and flowers from Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse and Nutrition Services Department employees.

Rosa Lozano and her children, Kevin, a 7th grade student at Hufford Junior High, and Yumalai Lozano, a fifth grade student at Taft Elementary, thought they were just coming to the school to get their weekly meals until all the workers started clapping and shouting.

"We thought we would have a little fun announcing our millionth meal," said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse. "Thank you so much to our Nutrition Services Department Employees for preparing and distributing the meals. These dedicated staff members are out braving the weather every week to assist families in the community.

"Grab and Go" meals continue every Thursday from 6:30-7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Dirksen, Gompers, Hufford, and Washington Junior High Schools in Joliet. Families may receive up to seven breakfasts and seven lunches per child each week. Child's names are not required at the pick-ups, but face masks are required.

The curbside distributions occur in the Midland Avenue (south of Jefferson Street) parking lot at Dirksen, the Briggs Street (south of U.S. 6) parking lot at Gompers, the Ingalls Avenue (west of Larkin Avenue) parking lot at Hufford, and the Fourth Avenue parking lot (east of Richards Street) at Washington Junior High School.

Joliet Public Schools District 86, the fourth largest elementary school district in Illinois, has now provided over one million meals for children since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March 2020.