Auburn City Schools has partnered with the Auburn Dream Center to provide meal boxes to families in need. 

Local families began picking up boxes Friday, March 20. Those boxes included approximately 35 pounds of food intended to support the entire family, according to Auburn City Schools Superintendent Cristen Herring.

“Families will be receiving ready-to-eat items and food that may be prepared at home,” Herring said. “Fruit, cereal, ravioli, granola bars and cheese crackers are samples of the snack items, and the more substantial commodities include rice, pasta, vegetables and sources of protein.”

The Dream Center offered to partner with Auburn City Schools to provide meals to families before the school closures were announced. Herring said they are fortunate to live in a community committed to schools and students. 

“The health and well-being of our students was carefully considered in the very early stages of developing contingency plans,” Herring said. “By assessing resources and logistics, the concept of partnership seemed most sustainable.”

Plans are already underway for a second distribution of meal boxes. The goal is to maintain this program on a weekly basis throughout the COVID-19 school closure. 

The family meal box program was offered to all families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Those families received an informational email from Auburn City Schools Director of Child Nutrition Ashley Powell on Monday. 

If a family believes they qualify for the meal boxes and did not receive an email about them, they should contact Powell at akpowell@auburnschools.org. 

“It is with heartfelt appreciation to the many that are making special effort that we extend our greatest thanks,” Herring said. “The Dream Center, The Hudson Family Foundation, The Jason Dufner Foundation, Our House, Esperanza House, Embrace, The East Alabama Food Bank, The AUMC Food Pantry, The Community Market and many others are all dedicated to the children and families in Auburn.”