On May 7, Austin City Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to allocate up to $2.2 million emergency dollars through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act for caregiver meals to be delivered through Austin ISD and Del Valle ISD meal distribution sites.

Funds will allow Austin ISD to expand the meal program to also serve caregivers, as school districts do not receive funding by the Department of Agriculture for these meals. 

Beginning Tuesday, May 19, caregiver meals will be distributed Monday through Friday at Austin ISD curbside and bus stop meal delivery sites.  Caregiver meals will be available only to the adults accompanying children at meal sites, or with documentation of the children they are picking meals up for.  Food is available until it runs out.  

"At Austin ISD, we're committed to expanding healthy food access and supporting our local economy," stated Anneliese Tanner, Austin ISD Executive Director of Food Service and Warehouse Operations. "We are proud to be a part of such a supportive community who shares the same values. Partnering with the City of Austin to serve caregiver meals prepared by local restaurants helps to provide additional food security for our families during these challenging times." 

The meals will be prepared by local restaurant partners and will feature healthy foods that will complement the menu served to students.  Austin-based restaurant, Easy Tiger, will be providing caregiver meals at Austin ISD sites through the first two weeks of the program.    

Joe Carr, General Manager at Easy Tiger stated, "Teachers and caregivers are our heroes! Easy Tiger is proud to provide safe, nutritious food for our city's caregivers and we are grateful to work with Austin ISD to feed our community."

Supporting the meal delivery program has been a priority for the AISD Crisis Support Fund, established by the Austin Ed Fund, AISD's nonprofit public education foundation. This support from the City of Austin and the Austin Ed Fund will enable AISD to provide an additional up to 6,000 meals a day for caregivers.

The AISD meal delivery program, provides two meals per day for students at over 70 sites across Austin. AISD is currently serving an average of 14,000 student meals per day. The meals provided for students are reimbursable under the federal National School Lunch Program. Meals are provided five days per week with a Friday pack that includes meals for the weekend. 

Find Austin ISD meal sites, times and more information at austinisd.org/covid19/meals.