Omaha area school districts work to feed students dealing with hunger from the pandemic

Juli Oberlander • October 1, 2021

Omaha area school districts work to feed students dealing with hunger from the pandemic

Photo courtesy of Judy Kyle

Over the past year and a half, school districts in the Omaha area have worked tirelessly to help food insecure children access fresh, healthy meals.

Ralston Public Schools Food Service Director Judy Kyle says many students have faced challenges due to the pandemic, an issue the schools are seeking to address.

"The public schools have spent the last 1.5 years feeding kids in and out of school," Kyle says. "We have had food supply shortages, staffing shortages, and kept feeding kids."

Despite all the difficulties resulting from COVID-19, Kyle says Omaha schools have met the challenges by providing food assistance to students in the form of boxed meals. Both inside and outside of school, staff are ensuring that students have access to fresh food, handing out meals on a regular basis and in all kinds of weather.

"We have been out in parking lots loading cars with meals for a day and meals for a week," she says. "We have worked outside when it was freezing cold and when it was super hot and in the rain. We have sent meals home for weekends and holiday breaks."

In one particular instance, Kyle says a Ralston Public Schools lunch lady made an effort to personally hand out meals and interact with families who have been deeply impacted by the pandemic.

"A car pulled up to pick up meals and the kids saw their own lunch lady passing out food," she says. "They were so happy to see her. She went over to their car and talked to them."

At school districts across the Omaha area, Kyle says food service managers and nutrition directors are working hard to make sure all students are receiving healthy meals, including her team at Ralston, Tammy Yarmon at Omaha Public Schools, Justin Wiley at Millard Public Schools, Sue Sucha at Papillion-La Vista and Erin Vik at District 66.

She also says Omaha school districts have received support and assistance from Lincoln's Department of Nutrition Services.

"We have had great support from the Department of Nutrition Services in Lincoln," Kyle says. "We have adapted to changes as they have come and they have come quickly."

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