JP Schools & Three O’Clock Project Partnership Provides Meals for More Children
Jefferson Parish Schools has served nearly 100,000 meals to children since starting its Grab & Go service March 18. The district has announced changes to the program that will allow it to reach even more families in need.
JP Schools is partnering with the Three O’Clock Project to offer children enough meals for all seven days of the week starting April 1. The partnership will also allow the district to deliver meals to students in areas where traveling to a Grab & Go site is more challenging for families.
On Wednesday, April 1, the district’s 13 Grab & Go sites will change from operating five days a week to being open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Children will begin receiving breakfast and lunch for that day and the following day on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Fridays, children will receive enough breakfasts and lunches to last through the weekend.
“We are here for all children and this partnership will allow us to reach even farther into the community to serve more families,” said JP Schools Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “I’m grateful to our employees and community partners who continue to go the extra mile for our kids. We’re finding creative solutions for trying times.”
To prepare for this shift, the district’s Grab & Go meal sites will be closed on Tuesday, March 31. The Grab & Go sites will operate as they currently do on Monday, March 30, with families receiving lunch for that day and breakfast for the following morning.
The 13 Grab & Go times and locations will remain the same. The sites are open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The locations are:
- Bissonet Plaza Elementary: 6818 Kawanee Drive in Metairie
- Emmett Gilbert School: 435 S. Jamie Blvd. in Westwego
- Fisher: 2529 Jean Lafitte Blvd. in Lafitte
- Gretna Middle: 910 Gretna Blvd. in Gretna
- Hazel Park Elementary: 8809 Jefferson Hwy. in River Ridge
- Marie Riviere Elementary: 1564 Lake Ave. in Metairie
- Marrero Middle: 4100 7th Street in Marrero
- Meisler Middle: 3700 Cleary Ave. in Metairie
- Riverdale High: 240 Riverdale Drive in Jefferson
- Terrytown Elementary: 550 E. Forest Lawn Drive in Terrytown
- Truman School: 5417 Ehret Road in Marrero
- Woods Elementary: 1037 31st Street in Kenner
- Worley Middle: 801 Spartans Drive in Westwego
Meals will also be delivered to students on five different routes. The meals served on the routes will be the same as at the Grab & Go locations. Those routes are located in Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego, and Metairie/Kenner. A starting date for delivery and additional details about the routes will be available at jpschools.org/GrabAndGo.
The Three O'Clock Project will also be partnering with Ochner Eat Fit to ensure the student meals are healthy and meet their standards.
Grab & Go meal sites will be closed April 10 to observe Good Friday. The last day of the Grab & Go service will be April 13 if school is allowed to resume April 15. The Grab & Go sites will continue their Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule if school closures are extended.
Meals will be offered to any child age 18 and under or special needs students age 21 and under regardless of whether they are a JP Schools student.
Eighty-two percent of the families in JP Schools are economically disadvantaged.
Three O’Clock Project (TOP) is a nonprofit organization. Their mission is to provide healthy meals and nutrition education for at-risk students after school.
Meals will be provided to all children age 18 and under without charge. Acceptance and participating requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Jefferson Parish Schools is an equal opportunity provider.