Hundreds of cars and individuals lined up today at the Clifton Avenue Grade School and the Lakewood Middle School to receive weekday and weekend food boxes, whose distribution by the Lakewood Board of Education resumed Thursday. 

The distribution of thousands of Gelbstein’s food boxes took place between 3:30 PM and 6 PM, with over 35,000 lunches and 35,000 weekend meals distributed, according to BOE officials.

Food box distribution will take place again on September 24th, October 1st, and October 8th.

The program, which receives funding from the USDA, was recently extended by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue through as late as December 31, 2020.

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food,” Perdue said. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs… we are extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially.”