Norwich — With 30,000 people in Connecticut applying for unemployment in the past three days, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz is visiting some of the free school breakfast and lunch distribution spots across the state, including the Wequonnoc School in Taftville Wednesday, to raise awareness of the program for children up to age 18.
The Wequonnoc School distributed 84 breakfast packages and 84 lunches Wednesday as Bysiewicz discussed the importance of the program with school staff and media. Bysiewicz visited the New London Community Meal Center Wednesday. On Tuesday, 57 lunches were distributed. School officials said participation has gone up as more people become aware of the service.
Bysiewicz said she wanted to come to Norwich after learning that Norwich Public Schools have 18 free school breakfast and lunch distribution sites, saying many bigger cities have only a few sites. Norwich Food Services Director Erin Perpetua told the lieutenant governor that Norwich schools wanted to establish as many sites as possible at city schools, playgrounds and neighborhood locations to reach people as close to their homes as possible. Several food services crews are rotating among the 15-minute time schedules at each site, she said.
“This is nice because when you have kids who walk to school and people who live right nearby, it makes it easier for people,” Bysiewicz said.
Wequonnoc School, in the center of the Taftville mill village, has many walking students, school officials said.
Bysiewicz said statewide, at the start of the mandated school closures on Friday, school districts in 72 cities and towns had set up school food distribution sites, and the number jumped to 110 cities and towns by Wednesday.
Bysiewicz said the 30,000 unemployment applications — 10,000 per day in the past few days — is unprecedented, even during the Great Recession. She said senior centers throughout the state also are delivering meals to reach those who would have received free lunches at now-shuttered senior centers. She said the state also is working with Food Share and food pantries statewide to ensure food is distributed to those in need.
“We know that this is a difficult time and we want to make sure people have the nutrition that they need,” Bysiewicz said.
Bysiewicz also asked if Norwich is providing schoolwork to students. Wequonnoc Principal Sara Duso said the school district is working on a plan for providing remote education and hopes to have a plan in place by Friday afternoon.
