In the four weeks since Dane County schools closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Madison School District has distributed 58,424 free meals to students.
But the number of lunches and breakfasts picked up each day at sites across the district is significantly less than the 12,241 students on free and reduced-price lunch who attend Madison schools, making up nearly half the student body.
Last week, the average number of meals distributed each day was 3,637, according to the district. But that figure combines breakfast and lunch, both of which are distributed at the same time for free to families who drive to a pickup site during lunchtime. That means only about 1,818 students get food each day.
Steve Youngbauer, the food and nutrition services director for the district, said he doesn’t have data on why there’s a mismatch in the numbers, but believes there may be several factors that contribute to it.
“There is a gap there for folks who are eligible for benefits and folks that are actually participating,” he said.