The Impact of Covid-19: Helping Feed Kids Who Aren’t in School Right Now
Photo Credit - NEST4US founder Shreyaa Venkat
The current health and economic crisis brought on by coronavirus pandemic has put a harsh spotlight on the long standing issue of hunger insecurity in our community; difficulties we’ve been trying to mitigate in Loudoun County schools for a long time. The COVID-19 crisis has added a level of anxiety and concern over health as well as financial strain brought on by loss of jobs, which has only served to increase the need for supplemental food resources for students across Loudoun County.
Though this pandemic is new to us, this issue is not. Hunger issues are not bound by a period of time; they are a constant. And while we have measures in place to help children when the school year ends, we had not foreseen the extension of that time, nor the increased pressure and stress inflicted on families whose sources of income may be temporarily or even permanently affected by the shut-down of our economy. Helping children and their families keep food insecurity at bay is the heart and soul of what makes Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun (BBFL) keep striving to establish and support our network of community helpers.
As you may have heard, the efforts to contain this virus has placed significant strains on food pantries across the nation, and Loudoun County is no exception. It is a harsh reminder that there are thousands of children in our county who rely on their school to supply two or maybe three meals in their day. Loudoun County Public Schools are continuing to offer free breakfast and lunches at designated schools, Mobile Hope of Loudoun is distributing free meals through their Listen for the Honk! program, Tree of Life Ministries distributes free meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Women Giving Back continue to provide free food every Saturday. These organizations, along with many others, have amped up their efforts to continue to serve the food insecure in a time of high health and safety anxiety.
What is BBFL doing to help?
We’re doubling down efforts to administer grants to our partner organizations in need. With your help, we’ve distributed $61,500 in grants to the following organizations who serve Loudoun County residents and schools:
St Mathews Episcopal Church
Selden’s Landing Elementary School
Galilee United Methodist Church
Balls Bluff Elementary
Tuscarora High School
St David's Episcopal Church and School
St Theresa Catholic School
Guilford Elementary School
Catoctin Elementary School
Our need is ever-present, but now more than ever. We continue our efforts to bridge the gap for children in families that require help. Because of the current size restrictions on gatherings and shelter in place restrictions, we’ve been unable to hold key fundraising activities this Spring. Normally, these events help keep our funds at a level that allow us to continue helping our partners into the foreseeable future. We are being tasked daily with requests for financial support and in order to meet the constant need, we are asking for your help. We simply cannot do this without you.
We were here for our community long before the COVID-19 crisis hit, we are here providing support and resources now, and will remain with our boots on the ground long after this season of challenges has passed. Our mission to ensure kids in our schools get the nourishment they need and deserve in order to thrive is our constant.
Because Hunger Doesn’t Take the Weekend Off, and neither do we!