While all Whatcom County schools are closed through at least April 24 in an effort to slow the COVID-19 pandemic, most school districts across the region will continue nutritional services for children up to age 18. Meal programs will be distributed during this unprecedented school closure through pick-up centers at schools, other designated locations, or by delivery.
Since information is changing quickly, be sure to check with your local school for the most up-to-date news regarding meals. This list will be updated as local schools make plans and change meal distribution to meet the community’s needs.
Bellingham School District
Starting today, March 31, Bellingham Public Schools are providing a multi-day meal box at our neighborhood sites and apartment complexes and discontinuing daily meals. They will not be back until Monday, April 6 at the following sites: Evergreen Ridge, Villa Santa Fe, Sterling Meadows, Eliza Court, Regency Park and Sudden Valley Community Center.
Starting April 6, the school district will provide multi-day meal boxes at all 16 sites (schools and neighborhood complexes, below) between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. only on Mondays. They are discontinuing daily meals. This shift in service is more efficient for families and staff, limits interactions and practices better physical distancing. If you have questions or concerns, please call 360-319-8863 o en español 360-510-9174.
Families can go to the following schools to pick up meals:
- Alderwood Elementary School
- Carl Cozier Elementary School
- Cordata Elementary School
- Geneva Elementary School
- Happy Valley Elementary School
- Parkview Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Wade King Elementary School
- Shuksan Middle School
- Options High School
Or the following neighborhood/apartment complexes:
- Eliza Court mobile home park
- Evergreen Apartments
- Regency Park Apartments
- Sterling Meadows Apartments
- Sudden Valley Community Center
- Villa Santa Fe Apartments
This service is possible through the efforts of Bellingham Public Schools’ food services team and the generosity of Bellingham Public Schools Foundation.
Blaine School District
The Blaine School District implemented its Nutrition Plan on March 18, with weekday distribution of meals. Grab ‘n Go meals are available for pick up between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on the Blaine High School campus, with a drive-through option in the parking lot behind the new grandstands. Meals are also being delivered along bus routes.
Children need not be students to receive a meal. All children who come will receive a meal to go (one lunch and the next day’s breakfast), free of charge. Visit BSD’s COVID-19 Nutrition page for more details, including maps and addresses for delivery routes.
Ferndale School District
Beginning Friday, March 20, the Ferndale School District will serve meal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Service locations:
Ferndale High School
Central Elementary School
Horizon/Eagleridge Campus
Custer Elementary School
Skyline Elementary School
Cascadia Elementary School
North Bellingham Learning Center
A flyer will be included with every meal to let families know what foods are included (for allergy concerns). It will also state that food should be consumed or refrigerated within two hours.
More information is available here.
Lynden School District
The Lynden School District‘s nutrition services began on Thursday, March 19. Meal pick-ups are available Monday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Meals are free for all children 0-18 years; they do not need to be a student.
Service locations:
Fisher Elementary
Isom Elementary
Bernice Vossbeck Elementary
Lynden Middle School
Visit the district’s website for more information and map of locations and meal pick-up plans.
Meridian School District
The Meridian School District offers multiple options for delivering food to its families and children ages 0-18 with a Grab & Go plan.
Food pick-up is available from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Meridian Middle School. The district’s transportation department will also deliver to the following areas:
- Pollman Circle / South end of Vail Drive: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Mobile Lane: 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints / 5800 Northwest Drive: 11:20 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
- Cordata Presbyterian Church / 400 Meadowbrook Court: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Pacific Rim Apartments: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Truth Tabernacle / 901 54th Terrace: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- New Life Fellowship / 810 E. Pole Road: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The district is also available to deliver food door-to-door to families with students not within walking distance to pick-up locations or without transportation. They ask that folks call 360-318-2172 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., daily, to request delivery.
Mount Baker School District
The Mount Baker School District has implemented a Reverse the Baker Bus program for meal deliveries on Tuesdays and Fridays. Small buses will stop at established elementary morning routes between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., offering breakfast and lunch for three days with each delivery.
Important: the district asks that folks watch for the bus and/or listen for the bus to honk upon arrival, as they can’t be sure of the time for each stop.
The service is free and available to all children 0-18 years of age, regardless of status for free lunch enrollment during typical school attendance. The district asks that children be present to receive their meals.
Featured photo of Cordata Elementary by Hannah Zoe
