{"id":2458,"date":"2020-04-24T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/?p=2458"},"modified":"2020-07-10T12:28:24","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T16:28:24","slug":"covid-19-slideshow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo Essay: Benzie and Frankfort Schools Deliver Meals During COVID-19 Closure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Food is being delivered twice a week to more than 1,000 children. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>All Photos By Mackenna Kelly<br>Current Contributor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> By order of the governor, Friday, March 13, 2020, was the last day that K-12 students were permitted to attend Michigan schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two public schools in Benzie County: roughly 1,500 students at Benzie County Central Schools and 500 at Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools. More than 50 percent are considered \u201ceconomically disadvantaged,\u201d meaning that, when school is in-session, they receive two free or reduced-price meals per day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the school closure, both schools are continuing to serve meals to students. Bus drivers are continuing to drive their normal routes twice a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of picking up students, they are dropping off food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter columns-1 wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Benzie Central High School Benzie County COVID-19 coronavirus Mackenna Kelly photographer The Betsie Current newspaper School Calendar\" data-id=\"2453\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/?attachment_id=2453\" class=\"wp-image-2453\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4220-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A calendar hangs on the wall in the kitchen of Benzie Central High School on March 23, 2020. What was supposed to be the weeks leading up to Spring Break became closure for COVID-19. Photo Credit: Mackenna Kelly  \n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Benzie County Central Schools Benzie Central High School COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program yellow school bus The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer\" data-id=\"2464\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4332\/\" class=\"wp-image-2464\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4332-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">At Benzie Central High School, volunteers prepare to load buses with meals for students on March 23, 2020. \u201cWe found out very quickly that we were going to need more help,\u201d says Lisa Purchase, food service director for Benzie County Central Schools. \u201cWe\u2019ve had so many join in.\u201d\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Rob Holmes Julie Nerg Frankfort Elberta Area Schools COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program school The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer\" data-id=\"2477\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4059-2\/\" class=\"wp-image-2477\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4059-1-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\"> Rob Holmes and Julie Nerg\u2014bus driver and para-pro for Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, respectively\u2014prepare to deliver meals to students on March 20, 2020. Holmes has been a bus driver for five years, and his typical route consists of about 20 stops; during the mandatory closure of all Michigan public schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, he and Nerg have been passing out food twice a week to about one-third of his regular stops. Photo Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"505\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-1030x505.jpg\" alt=\"Michigan school closure COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program meals to go The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer\" data-id=\"2494\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_merge_4076_4105\/\" class=\"wp-image-2494\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-1030x505.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-300x147.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-768x377.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-1536x754.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_merge_4076_4105-2048x1005.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Filled to the brim with food, paper grocery bags sit on bus seats, typically occupied by students. More than 50 percent of the 2,000 students that attend both the Benzie and Frankfort school districts are considered \u201ceconomically disadvantaged,\u201d meaning that, when school is in-session, they receive two free or reduced-price meals per day.  Photo Credit: Mackenna Kelly<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Julie Nerg Frankfort Elberta Area Schools COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program school The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer\" data-id=\"2459\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4100\/\" class=\"wp-image-2459\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4100-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Julie Nerg, a para-pro for Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, delivers food to a student at his home on March 20, 2020. During the mandatory closure of all Michigan public schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, staff are passing out food twice a week along the bus routes.\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Julie Nerg Frankfort Elberta Area Schools bus COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Michigan school closure\" data-id=\"2451\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/?attachment_id=2451\" class=\"wp-image-2451\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4129-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Julie Nerg, a Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools para-pro, delivers meals to a student\u2019s home on March 20, 2020. There are about 20 staffers and volunteers involved with preparing and delivering meals twice a week to more than 100 FEAS students. Photo Credit: Mackenna Kelly<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Jenna Noffsinger Frankfort Elberta Area Schools COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program school The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer\" data-id=\"2479\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4190\/\" class=\"wp-image-2479\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Jenna Noffsinger is the food service director for Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, where she has worked for the past eight years. Noffsinger has seen all kinds of changes during her tenure\u2014budget cuts; rising food costs; halving of the kitchen staff\u2014but the ramifications of the COVID-19 school closure have presented new challenges, such as packaging food for several days. \u201cI want to do salads and stuff,\u201d Noffsiner says. \u201cBut that\u2019s a lot of prep work and a lot of lettuce, and it\u2019s not going to last long in the container.\u201d\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Frankfort High School Frankfort Elberta Area Schools COVID-19 COVID19 COVID 19 coronavirus school food delivery program school meal service The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Jenna Noffsinger food service director FEAS Benzie County\" data-id=\"2460\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4163\/\" class=\"wp-image-2460\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4163-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Pre-made meals are prepared at Frankfort High School on March 20, 2020. \u201cWe did nachos, we did a \u2018make-your-own-pizza\u2019 kit with just flatbreads and sauce and cheese and a few pepperonis,\u201d says Jenna Noffsinger,  food service director at Frankfort Elberta Area Schools. Meals go home on the buses twice per week for about 100 students, which means prepping 600 to 800 meals at one time.\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Sharon Ward Laura Franklin Frankfort High School Frankfort Elberta Area Schools COVID-19 coronavirus Michigan school closure school food delivery program The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer packed lunches free reduced meals\" data-id=\"2461\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4185\/\" class=\"wp-image-2461\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4185-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Sharon Ward (left) and Laura Franklin pack lunches at Frankfort High School on March 20, 2020. \u201cOn the days that we pack [2 days a week], we are packing 900 bags as of right now,\u201d Ward says.\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Meal Delivery Benzie Central High School COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program meals for students The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Benzie County Central Schools\" data-id=\"2480\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4245\/\" class=\"wp-image-2480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4245-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">In addition to five full-time and seven part-time kitchen staffers at Benzie, there are about 50 others helping with the meal-delivery program at Benzie\u2014these \u201cvolunteers\u201d consist mostly of teachers, coaches, custodians, administrators, bus drivers, para-pros, and other school staff. \n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Benzie Central High School COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program meals for students The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Benzie County Central Schools\" data-id=\"2482\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4360\/\" class=\"wp-image-2482\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4360-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">In addition to five full-time and seven part-time kitchen staffers at Benzie, there are about 50 others helping with the meal-delivery program at Benzie\u2014these \u201cvolunteers\u201d consist mostly of teachers, coaches, custodians, administrators, bus drivers, para-pros, and other school staff. \nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Lisa Purchase food service director Benzie Central High School COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Benzie County Central Schools Benzie Central Huskies\" data-id=\"2463\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4243\/\" class=\"wp-image-2463\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4243-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\"> Lisa Purchase, director of food services at Benzie County Central Schools, gives direction to volunteers on March 23, 2020. The first few delivery days were a bit chaotic, but the team has figured out a system: 16 buses are now loaded with between 5,000 and 7,000 meals within 15 minutes.\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Belva Whaley teacher Benzie Central High School empty lockers COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program meals for students The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Benzie County Central Schools\" data-id=\"2481\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4272\/\" class=\"wp-image-2481\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4272-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Belva Whaley, who typically teaches English and Math at Benzie Central High School, smiles as she helps to load a cooler onto a bus on March 23, 2020. \nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"687\" src=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-1030x687.jpg\" alt=\"Benzie Central High School empty lockers COVID-19 coronavirus school food delivery program meals for students The Betsie Current Mackenna Kelly photographer Benzie County Central Schools\" data-id=\"2462\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/covid-19-slideshow\/img_4239\/\" class=\"wp-image-2462\" srcset=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-1030x687.jpg 1030w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4239-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\"> Lockers are clean and empty at Benzie Central high school on March 23, 2020, just 10 days after all Michigan schools were ordered to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\nPhoto Credit: Mackenna Kelly\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to sign up for meals to be delivered from a school to your home? Call&nbsp;231-882-9653&nbsp;for Benzie County Central Schools; call&nbsp;231-352-7601&nbsp;for Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This is the first in a series of stories that <strong>The Betsie Current <\/strong>intends to tell about Benzie County during the COVID-19 pandemic: \u201cgood news\u201d stories about resiliency, adaptation, ingenuity, compassion, and shared humanity. Read the accompanying <a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/special-delivery-benzie-frankfort-covid19-school-food-delivery\/\">article here<\/a>. Watch the accompanying <a href=\"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/video-benzie-and-frankfort-schools-deliver-meals-during-covid-19-closure\/\">video here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Full Disclosure:<\/strong>&nbsp;Aubrey Ann Parker, editor and co-owner of <strong>The Betsie Current<\/strong>, is an FEAS school board member and a BCCS soccer coach.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Food is being delivered twice a week to more than 1,000 children. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[231,1,210],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_4190-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3TDCr-DE","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions\/2607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/betsiecurrent.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}