From local school districts to nonprofit organizations, there are numerous options for families in need of food and meal support during the upcoming winter break. Here is a list of school districts in Southwest Washington that are either planning to offer limited meal service during the final two weeks of December, or have resources available to assist families during the holidays:
Battle Ground School District
Battle Ground Public Schools is providing meal kits during the winter break to students who sign up for them in advance. Each meal kit will contain six days’ worth of breakfast and lunch, and will be available to pick up one day each week of the break. The district has also been helping to distribute thousands of USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes to families in the community.
Evergreen School District
Evergreen School District will provide limited meal service during winter break. Seven days of breakfasts and lunches per child will be available for pick-up on Monday, December 21 and again on Monday, December 28 at the following locations:
Evergreen High School
14300 NE 18th St.
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Heritage High School
7825 NE 130th Ave.
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Free hot chocolate and prizes for children will be available during pick-up.
Hockinson School District
Hockinson School District will not continue its meal service program during the winter break, but Hockinson Middle School Leadership Students and district counselors are working together to provide local families in need with food baskets for the holidays. If you have needs, please fill out a Care Closet Request Form.
Vancouver Public Schools
Vancouver Public Schools will not be providing meals over winter break. However, families are welcome to contact their school’s family-community resource coordinator if they need food assistance. Coordinators are also working to make families aware of local food pantries that they can access during the break.
Washougal School District
Washougal School District’s Culinary Services team will be offering families kits of ingredients to create meals at home during the winter break. Meal kits will be available for pick-up on Friday, December 18, and again on Monday, December 28.
Meal kits will be available from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Cape, Hathaway, and Gause. Hathaway will also have an afternoon pick-up from 4 – 6 p.m. on both days. If you are new to the take-out meal program, please call 360-954-3780 and let Sherry Cranford know you’re coming.
Additional Resources
In addition to the school districts listed above, a number of nonprofit organizations across Southwest Washington are available to assist families with food support:
Clark County Food Bank
Clark County Food Bank is a regional food bank that distributes more than 8 million pounds of food and 6.7 million meals a year. The organization operates several food pantry sites across the county. For a list of locations, visit their website. Clark County Food Bank also operates several prepared meal sites that serve hot and cold meals on a regular basis.
Kalama Helping Hands
Kalama Helping Hands is located at 191 Cloverdale Rd. in Kalama. It is open from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, call 360-673-2814.
Lower Columbia Cap
Lower Columbia CAP offers various programs to assist low-income and senior residents needing food resources in Cowlitz County. Eligibility is dependent on income. For more details, please call 360-425-3430, ext. 252.
Share
Share provides daily, free meals for low-income and homeless members of our community. This includes families who are working but are still not able to make enough money to make ends meet. Much of the food used in the program is donated by area grocery stores and is prepared each day by volunteers and staff. For more information, visit www.sharevancouver.org or call (360) 448-2121.
