By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–There have been very few good things to come from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Union City Schools’ meals program, however, ranks at or near the top of that short list.
Thursday marked the final day of the heartfelt endeavor that provided more than 33,000 meals over the last nine weeks to any area child younger than 18 in the aftermath of schools being shut down in mid-March during the coronavirus outbreak.
Union City School System Director of Food Services Nan Tilghman oversaw the undertaking that made food available to those on each of the eight UCSS bus routes as well as a couple of grab-and-go locations. Hot items, fruit and snacks, as well as both milk and juice, were part of each delivery.
“This was such a rewarding project on so many levels,” Tilghman said. “Along with making sure so many of our students and other school-age children received good and nutritious meals on a regular basis, our people were able to ‘eyeball’ them and give them assurances that everything was going to be OK in the long run in this difficult time.
“I just can’t say enough good things about all of our cafeteria workers from all three campuses who worked so diligently to prepare and pack the meals. And our teachers and other school personnel who so willingly committed to delivering them to the kids … it was just an awesome feat that took the collective efforts of a lot of different people who went the extra mile.
“I’m proud to be a member of Union City Schools for this endeavor and I know Trudy’s (Kids Café) will pick right up and provide this valuable service for our kids this summer.”
Social distancing was practiced during the process and workers also wore both masks and gloves.
Trudy’s will now be the meals provider during the summer to area children, beginning Tuesday. There will be 30 daily stops in Union City and one each in both Troy and South Fulton.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trudy’s is not open to the public at this time, though pick-ups there will be available. All other locations are grab-and-go only.
For more information and a schedule of daily stops, call 599-9936 or visit Trudy’s Kids Café on Facebook.