Friday, June 5 is the last day IUSD meals will be served for the 2019-20 school year. Pick-ups this Friday will be at the same times and locations. For families who need food assistance over the summer break, we have partnered with Families Forward, which offers long-term food assistance to families in need. See below for more information about Families Forward's weekly food pantry and other community resources.
Since schools closed to the public on March 16, due to the COVID-19 crisis, IUSD’s Nutrition Services team has served close to a half-million meals to our students. We are committed and passionate about serving our community and connecting our families to vital resources.
Families Forward
Over the summer break if your family needs food assistance, Families Forward offers a drive-thru food pantry (M-F) 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., located at 8 Thomas Drive in Irvine. The drive-thru stations will provide non-perishable items to families each week. No appointment is necessary. Visit Families Forward for more information.
Families Forward also offers counseling services, housing programs, career services and more. If any family is facing a housing crisis as a result of COVID-19, please click here.
Additional Long-Term Food Assistance and Community Resources
Pandemic EBT or P-EBT Benefits – These benefits help families in California buy food when schools are closed because of the COVID-19 emergency. Families receive up to $365 per eligible child on their P-EBT card to use on food and groceries.
Families with children who get CalFresh, Medi-Cal or Foster Care benefits do not need to apply. Most will have already received their P-EBT card in the mail during the month of May.
Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and who did not get their P-EBT card in the mail by about May 22, 2020 must apply online before June 30, 2020. The online application is available now at ca.p-ebt.org.
Second Harvest Food Bank – Can help connect families to food resources in general and during the COVID-19 crisis.
211 OC – Is a resource center to link families to a variety of Orange County services, including food, the CalFresh program, housing, military and veteran services, and more.
What You Can Do
Due high demand, many organizations such as Families Forward, are experiencing shortages. Although they are not accepting volunteers due to safety concerns, Families Forward is accepting donated items, which can be delivered to their drive-thru pantry (M-F) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Below is a list of most needed items.
- Cereal
- Pasta sauce and Dried Pasta
- Rice (1lb and 2lb bags)
- Peanut butter
- Canned chicken and tuna
- Diapers (sizes 5 and 6)
- Baby wipes
For mental health and wellness resources, enrichment activities and more, visit iusd.org/COVID19