One year since our COVID-19 response began
A year ago today, it was a Sunday morning and I was standing in my kitchen on the phone with my wife: “I need you to come home. I have to go to work – they’re about to close all the schools in Minnesota.”
We called the Every Meal team together that afternoon. “The governor just announced the closure of all the schools. How are we going to ensure these kids have the food they need at home?”
In the following weeks and months, we distributed more food than ever before to children whose lives, and access to meal programs at school, had suddenly been upended.
3,618,833 meals
That’s how many meals we’ve provided since that fateful day in March, nearly four times what we were providing pre-COVID. All of this was only possible with your support. As I reflect on the last year, I am humbled and grateful. As things got overwhelming for our community, there was an overwhelming outpouring of generosity from our community.
When we sent an initial call to action to prepare 330,000 meals – the equivalent of completely filling our warehouse and emptying it in a matter of weeks – you responded.
When our school and community partners asked us to provide over 100,000 meals a week – increasing our production by 400% – you responded.
When we asked for volunteers or food donations, you showed up and asked what more you could do to help.
Thank you. Truly and sincerely thank you. You provided the volunteers, funds, connections, and more so that we could adapt and provide children in our community with good food that they need to learn and grow – whether they are at home or in the school building.
Our response to COVID-19 is not yet over
Our commitment to children remains firm – we will be there for these kids through the ongoing disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic and long after to help stabilize families. Please stay tuned to our ever-evolving response and how you can continue to get involved and help!
With deep gratitude,
Rob Williams
Founder and Executive Director, Every Meal