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National Guard gets food to Salem students

Members of the Ohio Army National Guard B Company 237 out of Youngstown load a box of non-perishable food items into the back of a vehicle in the Salem High School parking lot Friday during a special giveaway by Second Harvest Food Bank in conjunction with Salem City Schools. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

SALEM – Parents picking up bagged breakfast and lunch meals for their kids Friday at Salem High School received a surprise box of non-perishable food, too.

“This is a special giveaway,” Second Harvest Food Bank Mobile Pantry Coordinator George Mager said.

Mager arrived in the parking lot with 600 boxes of food, accompanied by Ohio Army National Guard members from B Company 237 of Youngstown who handled the distribution, all in coordination with Salem City Schools.

Ever since the schools closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the food service staff has distributed the bagged meals from

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for kids ages 18 and under.

National Guard soldiers pack up breakfast and lunch during Friday's meal distribution at Salem High School for kids ages 18 and younger. The cafeteria staff has been passing out the bagged meals since school closed due to COVID-19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, averaging 570 per day. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

Superintendent Sean Kirkland said the school district has worked with Second Harvest Food Bank over the years and the nonprofit contacted him about having a food giveaway during the breakfast/lunch distribution.

“Anytime we can do something for our kids and our community, we’re going to take advantage of that. We’re very fortunate to have Second Harvest in the area. A lot of local communities are benefactors of their generosity,” Kirkland said.

“We’re very thankful for the National Guard coming out and organizing this. We’re very fortunate to have them in our community. Thank you to them and Second Harvest,” he said.

National Guard members directed vehicles after they pulled up F.E. Cope Drive, having them drive past the cafeteria entrance, then around to the side of the building where more National Guard members loaded the breakfast/lunches into their open trunks.

The vehicles then pulled around next to the Second Harvest Food Bank truck where National Guard members loaded a box of food items into their trunks, gave the drivers a wave and told them to have a good day.

Salem City Schools Food Service Director Michele Fisher of the Nutrition Group holds up a thank-you card made for the lunch ladies by a student who wrote "I love your food. I hope you won't get sick." Fisher admitted she cried when she received the card. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

Chief Warrant Officer Brandon Warner said the local unit helps Second Harvest with packing food boxes and helps with distributions at least three times a week. They also help at the Warren Mission.

“When you can actually do something for your own community, that’s the most rewarding part for us,” Warner said.

Mager said Second Harvest will do food distributions in Hanoverton on Thursday and in Goshen Township at Bunker Hill United Methodist Church next Friday. These distributions will include boxes of produce and other items beside the non-perishables.

He said residents can call 211, the information line, to find out where they can go in their county, whether it’s Columbiana, Mahoning or Trumbull.

Michele Fisher, who serves as food service director for Salem City Schools through the Nutrition Group, said she and her cafeteria crew are averaging 570 meals a day. Football Coach Ron Johnson and Dean of Students Hank Brock deliver 70 bags, dropping off some at Salem Acres apartment complex and some to homes scattered around the school district. Call 330-332-8910 for delivery.

Pastor Hery Salamanca of First Christian Church serves the Hispanic community and delivers 113 of the meals to families.

On Friday, the menu included beef stew, pepperoni rolls, turkey wraps, fish sticks, assorted vegetables, gelatin fruit, breakfast items, juice and milk. Other meals she and her staff have prepared included choices such as spaghetti, chicken nuggets and deli style sandwiches.

She said it’s their job to feed the students and make sure they’re getting nutritious meals. Her team loves it.

She did admit it’s kind of scary with what’s happening. Her own kids are at home, too.

Fisher, though, smiled talking about a hand drawn thank-you card one student sent them, adding it made her cry.

Inside, the card read: “Dear Lunch Ladies, My brothers and me really enjoy having your lunch and breakfast. I love your food. I hope you won’t get sick.”

The staff is already making plans for this year’s summer feeding program.

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