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Local school district providing Easter dinners for families in need

Posted at 12:25 PM, Apr 09, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-09 12:25:28-04

(WXYZ) — A local school district is helping the Easter Bunny spread a little cheer. With unemployment numbers at an all-time high due to the shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, many families are having trouble making ends meet.

That’s why the teachers from Madison District Public Schools rallied together to provide Easter dinners for some of their students and families.

Superintendent Angel Abdulahad of Madison District Public Schools said, “I’m a firm believe that a happy tummy will yield a better child.”

He emphasizes the importance taking care of students, inside and outside of classrooms.

During the school year, the district provides all students two meals a day.

When the school shutdown was announced, right away Angel secured the means to continue providing two meals everyday for students.

Since the shutdown, they’ve given out more than 18,000 meals relieving the stress parents are facing, especially if they are dealing with new financial obstacles.

“School districts are the hub of the community. So, the more we could provide support to our families the better off everyone is.”

The teachers union approached Angel and asked if this week they could donate more than 300 hams and turkeys to provide Easter dinners for the families.

That’s a $7,000 donation. The school district is also donating side dishes for a complete holiday meal.

“It embodies the spirit of Easter, sacrificing for something bigger than your own.”

With the teachers pushing to provide this kind of support, Angel says it proves one thing.

“Teachers don’t just teach. They take care of the whole child.”

The meals that students are receiving on a daily basis come from a fund that’s different than the summer meals program.

That’s means the school district is already prepared to feed students until the new school year.

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