GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A West Michigan nonprofit that provides meals to students facing food insecurity says it will continue to work, despite all Michigan K-12 schools being closed for 3 weeks to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
Kids' Food Basket shared an update Friday, March 13 detailing their responses to the virus outbreak, including regular cleaning of the building and making sure that volunteers feel healthy prior to any activity.
"However, a virus cannot and will not stop hunger," Bridget Clark Whitney, CEO of Kids' Food Basket said in a statement on the website. "Kids’ Food Basket will continue to provide evening meals and other nutritional services, through several distribution locations."
Kids' Food Basket serves schools in four counties: Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday she is ordering all K-12 schools to close starting Monday, March 16 until Sunday, April 5. School buildings are set to reopen on Monday, April 6.
The schools, including all public, private and boarding schools, are being closed to slow the spread of coronavirus. The first two cases in Michigan tested positive on Tuesday, and on Thursday the total number of cases jumped to 12.
Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice said closing K-12 schools is a responsible decision to keep everyone involved safe. He acknowledged that doing so will be challenging, and that many students rely on schools for meals.
Kids' Food Basket is asking that people volunteer, to help the organization prepare and pack food that is now critically needed by local families. Individuals who are healthy and interested in volunteering can sign up on the Kids' Food Basket website.
In lieu of volunteering, monetary donations are also incredibly helpful to KFB. Those can also be made on their website.
If you are signed up to volunteer at KFB and feel ill, coordinators ask that you stay home. KFB is asking that volunteers be symptom free for at least 48 hours before scheduling their next volunteer activity.
"We exist to nourish our community and we will continue to do that as long as it is safe to do so," Clark Whitney said.
The state has set up a website for COVID-19, and their preparations for dealing with the virus.
More COVID-19 News on 13 ON YOUR SIDE:
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- Health officials release possible COVID-19 exposure locations in Michigan
- 10 new cases of coronavirus in Michigan, including 4 in West Michigan
- 3 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Kent County
- Why we're closing schools, avoiding events, and suspending the NBA season to stop the coronavirus
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