Thousands of families will now have to look for another way to get food for their kids after Chicago Public Schools suspended its meal distribution program “based on the evolving nature of activity across the city,” officials announced late Sunday night.
The district, the nation’s third largest, has given out more than 12.5 million meals since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through a food program that has been widely praised by parents who rely on schools as a primary food source. Of CPS’ 355,000 students, 271,000 come from low-income families and about 17,000 are homeless.
The decision to suspend the program was an abrupt change from a letter sent to parents by CPS CEO Janice Jackson, which said the district would continue to provide the free meals for all students.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m., the district posted on its social media accounts that “based on the evolving nature of activity across the city, we are suspending grab-and-go meal sites and all other school and administrative office activities tomorrow.” CPS said staff will work from home and remote learning will continue Monday.
In a letter to families, the district said the decision was made “in recognition of the potential challenges families and staff could face trying to reach school buildings and offices tomorrow.” CPS said it would monitor the situation and give an update on meal distribution Tuesday.
The Chicago Teachers Union criticized the move in a late night tweet.
“CPS is already forcing children living in areas of extreme unrest and trauma into remote learning tomorrow. Now it’s cutting off their access to food,” the union wrote.
CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates, reached after the announcement, said only that she was “speechless.”
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rose (35th), a frequent critic of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and member of the City Council’s progressive caucus, tweeted: “Who is making these decisions? Our families rely on this food. The food distribution at Nixon Elementary in 60639 (one of the ZIP codes hardest hit by COVID-19) runs out of meals every day. What even is the rationale here?”
Chicago has been the scene of many peaceful protests the past few days against police brutality, systemic oppression and the killing by Minneapolis police of George Floyd.
Aside from those gatherings, widespread looting, vandalism and destruction has hit businesses throughout the city, including many grocery stores and convenience stores on the South, Southwest and West sides, which are alternative places families would otherwise try to get food.
Jackson’s letter earlier Sunday largely addressed the issue of racism in the United States and her worries “as a mother of a black boy who is worried for him, and the millions of other black boys in our country.”
“I worry that when he leaves our home to ride bikes with his friends, he will come back to me as a headline, a hashtag, a rallying cry — an Ahmaud, a Breonna, a George,” Jackson wrote.
“We must acknowledge that far too many of us have come to accept fear and pain as part of normal life. Fear should not be the first thing we feel in the morning and the last thing we feel at night but it is for many in the African American community. If we are going to progress as a society, this moment must lead us to confront racism — in all of its forms — on a daily basis.”
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CPS suspends food distribution program ‘based on the evolving nature of activity’ in Chicago - Chicago Sun-Times
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