From Mobile Pantry to Drive-Up Service: Douglas Elementary Adapts to Help

Douglas Elementary School typically invites families inside the building each month to pick up items at its mobile food pantry, co-hosted by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

In response to the school shutting down to reduce the spread of coronavirus, Dawn McBride, administrative secretary at Douglas Elementary School, changed the way the mobile pantry operates to follow social distancing protocol. Now, Douglas staff members and volunteers deliver boxes of healthy food to people in their cars to avoid contact as much as possible.

Before running out of food at their recent drive-up day, Douglas Elementary provided food to 190 families with school-aged children in the Watertown School District. Their hours are usually 2:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., but they had to close at 4:45 p.m. due to a shortage and so many families needing food.

“The families in our community need support now more than ever,” McBride explained as to why she wanted to adapt the way the pantry operates. “If we can help them save money out of their grocery budget, then we are here to serve.”

To follow coronavirus social distancing, Douglas is making sure everyone is staying six feet apart, and this guideline has limited the number of volunteers she can have on site.

“We are very grateful for the opportunity to help families struggling during this difficult time and are happy to serve the community however we can,” McBride said. “I would encourage everyone that has the financial means to please donate to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. They do wonderful things for people who need it the most”

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