Head Start Curbside Meals and Food Resources

Head Start Curbside Meals and Food Resources
Posted on 02/01/2021

The suspension of on-campus learning during the recent pandemic has created a subsequent need in many Head Start families who due to economic hardships, rely even more on the nutrition services the Head Start program provides. 

ESC Region 19 Head Start Nutrition Program manager, Gabriela Carrasco responds to our Head Start parent’s most frequently asked questions regarding the continuation of meal services and other food and nutrition resources:

What nutrition services are being provided to Head Start Children at this time?

Head Start is providing curbside “grab and go” meals to all enrolled children; a Monthly Newsletter is available on our website which includes activities to do at home, parent resources and USDA recipes as well as Virtual Nutrition lessons which includes physical activities, recipes, and advice on how to de-stress.

We also partner with community food banks, WIC (women Infants and Children), and P-EBT (Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer) to provide additional food resources to our families.

How many Grab and go meals are distributed on average to families each week?

On average, we distribute over five thousand meals to Head Start and Early Head Start families per week.

Who is eligible for Grab and Go meals?

Any child who is currently enrolled in the Head Start or Early Head Start program is eligible to receive meals.

Where and when can families pick up their child’s Grab and Go meals?

Parents can go to their child’s Head Start Center to pick up their Grab and Go meals. Curbside meal distributions are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am – 12pm. CISD meal distribution time is 11am – 1pm and Ft. Hancock meal distribution time is 11:30am – 12:30pm.  

Multi-Day meals are provided on Monday for Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday for Wednesday and Thursday.
                
Tornillo Head Start also offers a one-time 
meal distribution for the entire week.

           
What if parents have no transportation to pick up their child’s meals?

We are currently offering home deliveries to 10 Head Start centers and are working diligently to expand this service to our remaining centers.


Additionally, we are 
working with our families on a case by case regarding the meals. 

ESC Region 19 Head Start Nutrition Services continues providing services to Head Start families, and working to ensure that every child’s nutritional needs are accommodated.

For more information on nutrition services and resources, contact Gabriela Carrasco at [email protected]