PVPUSD Partners with Torrance Unified School District to Provide Free Meals During School Closure

As of March 17, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) has partnered with Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) to provide free breakfast and lunch for anyone under the age of 18. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the districts are distributing free meals at five different TUSD elementary and middle schools, and they will continue to do so until on-site schooling resumes. The meal program is headed in part by PVPUSD director of Food Services Christina Lin who wants people to know that the criteria for eligibility will not be strict, as COVID-19 has impacted everyone, not just students.

“You do not need to qualify for free or reduced-price meals and do not even need to be a student of TUSD or PVPUSD,” Lin said. “Meals will be provided throughout the entirety of the school closure.”

To ensure the safety of families and children who are picking up meals, the food can only be retrieved via pickup, and the following social distancing guidelines must be enforced throughout. The staff involved in the provisions must wear masks and gloves, and proper safety precautions are required to be taken. Likewise, according to the Los Angeles County mandate, as of April 10, those receiving the meals and their families must wear masks too.

Lin hopes that PVPUSD and TUSD students will benefit from this program and is thankful that the partnership would make nutritious meals available to all minors. Anyone who is curious about this program may visit TUSD’s Nutrition Services website for more information.

According to Sophomore Conor Spencer, making this meal plan open to people other than students is smart, as it helps other children who are struggling to get meals. 

“I think it is great that both PVPUSD and TUSD are offering these meals, but I am concerned about how they will operate with respect to the coronavirus,” Spencer said. “Hopefully, wearing gloves and masks will be enough to prevent spreading the disease.”

Because PVPUSD and TUSD have been successful in their efforts to hand out free breakfast and lunches to students, Sophomore Will Deley believes that it might set an example for other schools in the area to do the same.

“I hope other schools catch wind of this, especially because students in other areas may also be struggling to find meals,” Deley said.