The Farmers to Families Food Box Program is a part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program aimed at connecting national, regional, and local food distributors and farmers with local communities in need. This is a win-win program that helps both farmers and communities who have suffered loss during this crisis. This has been an incredible resource throughout the nation during the crisis at hand and according to the USDA, as of July 24th, 2020 this program has distributed over 46 million Farmers to Families Food Boxes throughout the nation. 

On July 29th, 2020 at Franklin Middle School the Yakima School District partnered with Chelan Fresh Produce to provide over 1680 fresh produce boxes to the community here in Yakima. The principals of both Franklin Middle School and Wilson Middle School Sherry Anderson and Earnesto Araiza provided their exceptional leadership to help coordinate the distribution process. Sherry Anderson commented that, "Any time an opportunity like this comes up to help our community, you can count me in." The distribution wouldn't have been possible without the twenty youth volunteers from a local faith based organization in who showed up with enthusiasm and energy to help with the distribution of the food boxes. One volunteer when asked what they thought of the opportunity shared, "I am so blessed to be doing this." Another volunteer even gave up of his time on his 16 birthday to be here and was celebrated amongst his peers as being a admirable leader to them all. What a way to give on your birthday!

The community was full of gratitude for the local produce and many families who came through the lines shared their appreciation to have a supplement to their groceries in such a time as this. These are the things that Yakima Valley does well; bringing together farmers, families, and community to work together to sustain each other no matter the situation. As not only an employee of the Yakima School District Food Services Department but a nutrition professional I was proud to be a part of a community event like this that provided nutritious, wholesome, and practical produce from the Pacific Northwest to Yakima. I hope to be a part of many more events like this to inspire our community that we're all in this together. Let's keep creating hope in our valley, Yakima!

Megan Bewley with McDonalds of Yakima so generously donated free treats to send to our 3rd grade students as incentives to participate in the online LAP Summer Academy.  We currently have 87 3rd graders from our district logging in and participating in Google Classroom under the instruction of 9 YSD teachers.  Thank you for yoour support McDonald's of Yakima!  The students will love it!

Because COVID-19 closed our schools, your children are eligible for food assistance, called Pandemic EBT (P-EBT): Emergency School Meals Program.

P-EBT provides families with funds to make up for some of the cost of meals while school was closed. This benefit is for Washington children in grades K-12 who receive free or reduced-price school meals. These benefits will be on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card which is used like a debit card to buy groceries. Because all YSD students receive free breakfast and lunch, all YSD students are eligible regardless of income. If you do not already receive benefits, you will need to apply on or after June 30.  If you receive food assistance benefits already, the money will appear on your EBT on June 30.

Update 7/6/20: We have been in contact with OSPI last week and they said that DSHS had the incorrect student list for Yakima School District which is why they turned down some parents; they are updating with the correct list which will show any student enrolled in Yakima School District that was grade K-12 in the school year 2019-2020 as eligible for PEBT.

PEBT Flyer - English

PEBT Flyer - Spanish

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Wearing a Mask is an act of Kindness and LOVE! Roosevelt Staff Love and miss their students and famlies. Please "Mask Up to Open Up" We are BEARS! #StopTheSpread #YSDpride #YSDRooseveltRocks