MCE, a school community delivers.

Dana Kessel, director of MCE Food Service.

MCE, a school community delivers.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

CUSTER — Mason County Eastern’s food service has been handing out and/or delivering just over 400 meals per day to students who live in or near the school district. Each morning Food Service Director Dana Kessel, along with food service employees and volunteers prepare breakfasts and lunches for the day. Then, volunteers and staff members, including Superintendent Paul Shoup and Principal Mark Forner, deliver the majority of the meals. Pick-up sites are available Monday through Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the school and at the Tallman Senior Center, but most of the meals are delivered.

Shoup said the meal deliveries are an opportunity for school officials and students to stay in contact. School counselors are also available when there are increased needs.

Kessel said preparing grab-and-go meals is different than preparing hot lunches at the school. She said the meals can’t be heated, which limits menu options. One of the biggest challenges has been the availability of certain food items. Kessel said MCE is essentially competing against much larger school districts throughout the state, and it doesn’t require as much quantity at a time. She added that all three Mason County school districts’ food service directors are in constant communication with each other to assure needs are met during the COVID crisis.

Mason County Eastern will not be delivering or serving meals during its scheduled spring break, which takes place April 30 through April 3. Service will resume on Monday, April 6. During that time, children may utilize a drop-off site from one of the other school districts. Shoup suggested parents consider the MCC sites at the Branch Township Fire Department in Walhalla, the Free Soil Community Center in Free Soil, or MCC Upper Elementary in Scottville. See a complete list here.