Students receiving meals during pandemic

The Richland School District Food Services department has been hard at work since the pandemic forced the school buildings to close its doors.

Though the students are not able to attend school in-person, they are still in need of a nutritious breakfast and lunch, which have been provided by the staff.

This week, The Shafter Press is featuring the staff at Golden Oak Elementary. Led by Team Leader Jennifer Ashmore, the staff at Golden Oak serve between 650 and 715 students daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday each week. This includes meals that are delivered to the Smith Corner's/ La Colonia route as well.

Staff members pack around 7,000 food items daily into bags to hand out.

Between 150 to 250 cars pass through the drive-thru in the 90 minutes the staff members serve between noon and 1:30 p.m. Most staff are split between an early morning group and a mid-morning to afternoon group to allow them to maintain social distancing. Masks and gloves are worn throughout the shifts and surfaces are sanitized.

In addition to Ashmore, the staff at Golden Oak includes Benita Hernandez, Alissa Cortez, Claudia Espinoza, Ana Hernandez De Perez, Maria Hernandez, Patricia Hiriarte, Frances Luna, Jessica Jimenez, Brandie Rockey and Yolanda Villavicencio.

Nutritional Services Director Mason Hollingsworth said that his staff works hard to provide a nutritious and delicious meal for the students and this goal is met with such an amazing, hard-working staff.