Carpinteria School District workers provide Grab ‘n Go lunches for children

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - Carpinteria Unified School District employees have been working hard to package hundreds of Grab 'n Go lunches for students in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school district said it aims to help support as many families as possible who are lacking the resources to obtain nourishment during this uncertain time.

The Grab 'n Go team consists of four women including Arna Crittenden, a Senior Cook from Carpinteria High, Deborah Gardiner, a cook from Aliso Elementary School, and Michelle Hernandez, the Director of Food and Nutrition for the District. They also have two drivers.

Rachel Antles, who works as a cook at Canalino Elementary School, said that she and the rest of the team served 650 students on Thursday.

"I miss my 600 kids I cook for at Canalino School and love to see their faces and excitement when they see me and they open their lunches to see what they have," said Antles.

Meals are being offered at Canalino Elementary School, Aliso Elementary School, and Monte Vista Park on Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Meals can be received by families inside their car or by walking to the location. The Grab 'n Go team also offers a delivery service, bringing 260 meals to Dahlia Court which are handed out individually.

Their weekly menu consists of a breakfast, lunch, snack and drink.

Food items include cereal and granola for breakfast, kid-friendly lunches like sandwiches and taco salads, fruit or crackers for snack and a variety of beverages.

Hernandez explained the team was serving about 250 children per day at the beginning of April, but are now serving 650.

The team said they are also handing out extra food bags given to them by the Foodbank.