Free meals continue at 14 Catholic school drive-up locations through May 1

Story by Beth Donze

During its first month of operation, the “grab-and-go” meal service established by School Food Services of New Orleans, Inc. – the archdiocesan agency that oversees the cafeteria programs at 70 Catholic schools – provided 190,622 free meals to 95,311 children across the metro area.
 
Originally scheduled to end earlier this month, the program – which offers a free daily breakfast and hot lunch to children ages 18 and younger – has been extended through May 1 at 14 drive-up locations.

The following locations are dispensing the free meals each weekday (Monday through Friday) from 10 a.m. to noon:
 
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 8970 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 2305 Fenelon St., Chalmette
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 531 Avenue A, Westwego
• Resurrection of Our Lord, 4861 Rosalia Drive, New Orleans
• St. Alphonsus, 2001 Constance St., New Orleans
• St. Ann, 4921 Meadowdale St., Metairie
• St. Augustine High School, 2600 A.P. Tureaud, New Orleans (service at this site resumes April 27)
• St. Benilde, 1801 Division St., Metairie
• St. Leo the Great, 1501 Abundance St., New Orleans
• St. Margaret Mary, 1050-A Robert Blvd., Slidell
• St. Rita, 65 Fontainebleau Drive, New Orleans

Three additional sites are open on Mondays and Wednesdays only from 10 a.m. to noon, but are providing meals for the entire week (On Mondays, two breakfasts and two lunches per child are provided to cover Monday and Tuesday; and on Wednesdays, three breakfasts and three lunches per child are distributed to cover the remaining weekdays):
 
• St. Joan of Arc, 919 Cambronne St., New Orleans
• St. Rita, 194 Ravan Ave., Harahan
• St. Stephen, 1027 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans
 
The pre-packaged and freshly cooked meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, said Ellen Gauthreaux, executive director of School Food Services. No ID or Catholic-school affiliation is required to receive the meals, she said.
 
In the early weeks of the program, parents or guardians were asked to have their children with them at pick-up, but that is no longer a requirement, said Gauthreaux of the honor system that focuses on getting hearty and nutritious meals to young people.
 
“A parent or guardian can pick up on behalf of the child,” Gauthreaux said.