As Santa Clarita Valley students remain home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the William S. Hart Union High School District and School Day Café plan to continue to provide school lunches to students on a “grab-and-go” basis.

“Many students and families rely on school meals during the school week,” said Chief Business Officer Ralph Peschek in a note to Hart District students. “As a result of recent school closures here in our valley, daily access to that resource has been interrupted. In an effort to provide meal access, the William S. Hart Union High School District and Santa Clarita Valley School Food Service Authority have coordinated to provide free lunches across our community.”

These meals are funded by the USDA and are free to kids and teens ages 18 and younger at meal sites across the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the district.

In order to accommodate current CDC guidance to maintain social distancing, these sites are set to offer “grab and go” meals, and do not have anywhere for students to eat on-site.

The food served is healthy and follows USDA nutrition guidelines, according to officials.

No application or proof of income is needed. Parents and guardians can just bring children to the meal site in the community

Officials noted that children must be present and must claim the meals in order to receive them.

The William S. Hart Union High School District and its partners at Sodexo School Services are planning to provide three weeks of meal service, Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, March 23 and ending on Friday, April 10.

Drive-up lunch services are set to be provided from noon to 1 p.m. at the following locations during school days (Monday to Friday):

• Rancho Pico Junior High School – 26250 W. Valencia Blvd., Stevenson Ranch
• Rio Norte Junior High School – 28771 Rio Norte Dr., Valencia
• La Mesa Junior High School – 26623 May Way, Canyon Country

One bagged/boxed lunch per child (18 years and younger) is set to be provided.

“With the current challenges our community is facing as a result of the recent school closure, we feel it is important to provide continuity to students across the valley,” Peschek said.

These three sites have been selected with collaboration with elementary districts in order to assure that there is at least one meal site in each junior high school and high school attendance area, according to officials.

“The Hart District has elected to keep serving meals at these three locations through spring break to assure these resources don’t disappear before we can return, until our students can return to their schools and normal routines,” said Peschek.

For any questions regarding any of the three sites, contact the Hart District at 661-753-5750 or [email protected] or [email protected].

Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station Captain Justin Diez visiting School Day Cafe on Wednesday as thanks for their efforts. Courtesy of SCV Sheriff.

School Day Café, sponsored by the Santa Clarita School Food Service Authority, also plans to offer meals at several locations throughout the valley.

Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 20 from noon to 2 p.m., a drive-up service for families for lunch service is expected to be provided at the Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency located at 25210 Anza Drive in Valencia.

Beginning Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 3, drive-up lunch services are scheduled to be provided from noon to 1 p.m. at the following locations during school days (Monday to Friday):

One bagged/boxed lunch per child (18 years and younger) is set to be provided.

• Santa Clarita Elementary – 27177 Seco Canyon Rd, Saugus, CA 91350
• Cedarcreek Elementary – 27792 Camp Plenty Rd, Canyon Country, CA 91351
• Rio Vista Elementary – 20417 Cedarcreek St, Canyon Country, CA 91351
• Newhall Elementary – 24607 Walnut St, Newhall, CA 91321
• Peachland Elementary – 24800 Peachland Ave, Newhall, CA 91321
• Wiley Canyon Elementary – 24240 W La Glorita Cir, Newhall, CA 91321
• Dr. J. Michael McGrath Elementary – 21501 Deputy Jake Dr, Newhall, CA 91321
• Canyon Springs Community Elementary – 19059 Vicci St, Canyon Country, CA 91351
• Mitchell Community Elementary – 16821 Goodvale Rd, Canyon Country, CA 91387
• Live Oak Elementary – 27715 Saddleridge Way, Castaic, CA 91384
• Northlake Hills Elementary – 32545 Ridge Rte Rd, Castaic, CA 91384

Click here for an interactive map of serving locations.

For any questions about Santa Clarita School Food Service Authority school lunches, call 661-295-1574 ext. 0, or visit the website.

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