With schools closed to the public, nearly all Gorham Schools employees are working remotely. But not everyone can work from home.
Every weekday morning, school kitchens are bustling with activity, as School Nutrition Program crews prepare lunch for more than 200 students. After just a few days, Operation Feed Gorham was running like a well-oiled machine.
Lunches are made and bagged by kitchen staff, then picked up by bus drivers and delivered to four sites around Gorham. Education technicians and bus drivers work together to distribute lunches, all while maintaining the appropriate six-foot buffer recommended under social distancing guidelines.
Photo credit Maureen O’BrienPictured (top) is the Gorham High School kitchen crew (l to r): Alicia Jeffords, Jamie Hychko, Laurie Scaplen, Michelle Coyne, and Deb “Pokey” Tucker. Pictured (bottom) is the Gorham Middle and Elementary Schools’ kitchen crew (l to r): Diana Blanchard, Kirsten Erickson, Pat Hinkley, Becky Phinney, and Nancy Aceto.
In the first seven days, Operation Feed Gorham distributed more than 1,200 bagged lunches. As of March 30, breakfast was also included. Organizers expect demand to grow as COVID-19 shutdowns continue, so they are adding lunch production sites at Village and Great Falls Elementary Schools.
Superintendent Heather Perry is grateful for the community response. “Operation Feed Gorham is just another shining example of how our incredible community comes together in times of need. Even when we can’t literally come together, we still find a way,” she said.
The lunch program is open to any Gorham student. There are no eligibility requirements. Families can sign up on the Dining Services section of the district’s website, or stop by one of the pickup locations Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.