Baldwin Park School District feeds its community

The entity’s nutrition service has distributed millions of food boxes to families, mostly Latinas

Photo: Courtesy

Rosa Estrella still remembers how during the worst days of the pandemic, she and her nutrition services team from the Baldwin Park Unified School District (BPUSD) began to deliver food to keep the community fed, where the need was latent.

“There were small children who were in the car with their parents and they told us they had nothing to eat at home,” said the woman, who runs the BPUSD nutrition program.

Seeing this high need since the Covid pandemic began – 19, in March of 2020, the nutrition services team began coordinating a food distribution program that until the date has served over 5.5 million meals to the Baldwin Park community.

Over 2.6 million meals have been delivered during the school year alone 2020 – 2021, and it is planned to continue with this initiative throughout the summer.

Estrella assured that what they have experienced was very strong since the pandemic is something that had never been seen. To help those most in need, she enlisted the help of churches and the Los Angeles County Food Bank to provide food donations for her community.

To date, food is delivered once a week, every Wednesday.

“We provide food in larger quantities that include seven breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners, for each person “, explained Estrella.

” We also have a warehouse where we keep milk, fresh fruits and vegetables before distributing them. “

Estrella said that staff from other school districts were amazed at the work that Baldwin Park was doing, as that was not the case with them elsewhere.

“They asked me how do you do? But we never had problems during the pandemic for our workers to come to help, ”she indicated.

The director said she was very grateful to the employees who put their health at risk to keep the community fed from day one.

“This is a special group of people,” said Estrella. “The millions of meals served could not have been possible without your hard work and compassion for the families that have been affected by school closings.”

The Superintendent of the BPUSD, Froilán N. Mendoza, said he is very proud of the exceptional Nutrition Services Department, which has worked tirelessly to help the Baldwin Park community.

“Low under the direction of Rosa Estrella, the department immediately adapted to meet the needs of thousands of students and families, providing vital services during the school period and during vacations. ”

Estrella said she understood that there are students who still do not feel safe to return to classes in person and that is why the program will continue to serve everyone.

Aid Continues

Baldwin Park and Sierra Vista High Schools and Jones Middle School will distribute food during the summer for to children one to 18 years from Wednesday June 9 to Wednesday 11 of August. Sites Will Offer 9 Bulk Weekly Meals: am, at 11: 00 am, every Wednesday.

The families of Baldwin Park who need more information can call 1 (626) 1200 – 2834629.