The Three O’Clock Project’s action plan against COVID-19
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Louisiana schools have been forced to close their doors, leaving many children hungry. To feed these children in need, the non-profit organization Three O’Clock Project (TOP) is partnering with schools to keep students fed during these trying times.
“When the school bell rings at three o’clock, many children do not have nutritious meals — or any meal at all — to look forward to at home.”- TOP
The Three O’Clock Project is a non-profit organization that combats food insecurity by providing healthy and nutritious meals to children in low-income households.
Usually, their initiative is focused on feeding children after school and during the summer. However, due to COVID-19 and the statewide shutdown, schools have closed and the TOP is stepping in to provide the meals students would usually receive during their Lunch break.
The non-profit has been providing meals for children all over East Baton Rouge Parish, Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish.
With the help of the community, they have been able to feed nearly 100,000 students in Jefferson Parish alone.
They have partnered with multiple school districts in Louisiana like Jefferson Parish Schools. According to the JP Schools website, 82 percent of the families in their district are economically disadvantaged and with the help of this non-profit organization, they can lessen that burden for those in need.
They have also teamed up with BREC parks which are parks used as a “grab and go” location and local food truck owners. The Taco de Paco food truck has been used in Baton Rouge to hand out food.
Service workers in the food industry are also stepping up to the plate. Most of them lost jobs during the outbreak so they’ve decided to work in a commissary kitchen to get these meals ready for children in need. Ochsner Eat Fit is working with TOP to ensure the student meals are healthy and meet their standards.
The LA Believes nutrition team is also helping with that initiative according to the Three O’Clock Twitter account, which keeps the community updated on how the organization is handling everything. Their twitter account also allows them to applaud their team and all the people apart of making sure this organization runs well especially when it’s needed the most.
The Three O’Clock Project tweeted, “Our mobile meals unit has been such a community effort & we couldn’t do it w/out amazing partners!”
Their team has set up a response and action plan using “grab and go” feeding locations and “mobile meal” distribution stops to provide children with breakfast and lunch seven days a week.
So far the responses have been fairly positive.
“The food has been SUPER yummy!”- Anonymous
People can donate online at their website via Paypal, or they can shop through Amazon Smile and add a donation to their purchase.
“Help us grow our reach by a financial or in-kind contribution today. Every child deserves access to healthy food. $100 provides a healthy snack after school all year for one child. $250 provides a healthy after school meal all year for one child.”- TOP website.
