During the COVID-19 pandemic, funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has helped Lexington Public Schools offer free meals to all students through the Lexington Public Schools Food Service Program. 

Using the Choosi app, a mobile meal-ordering tool, in-person learning students can pre-order their lunch from a diverse menu of breakfast and lunch options. They then receive their food from a variety of pickup stations around the school. Similarly, remote-learning students can order food in bulk using the LPS Food Service Program’s meal order form. About 6300 meals are served to remote-learning students per week. The program also makes about 250 to 300 meals per week for in-person learning students.

The food service program has benefitted Lexington parents and students. 

“A lot of parents are taking advantage of this…they’re busy, they’re home, they’re trying to help their kids with their classes, trying to keep them on schedule,” Kevin Silvia, Food Service Director of Lexington High School, said.

Silvia emphasized that the services they offer are meant to be accessible to all.

“The point I’m trying to get across to the community and to all the kids is that although we do want to take care of food insecure people, it’s really for everyone,” Silvia said.