Kent School District moms are keeping students fed as teachers strike continues

The Kent School District teachers strike is now on its fifth day. That means many students who rely on free school lunches don’t have access to meals. But two Kent district moms are making sure students are fed while both sides remain at an impasse.

Jennifer Liggett Giampapa came up with the idea while making lunch for her kids.

“It dawned on me, what’s the rest of the community doing when there’s no lunch?” Giampapa said.

That’s when she learned that for some students school is the only time they get a meal. So she decided to make sack lunches for those who want it, no questions asked.

Today they’re giving out PB&J sandwiches, apple sauce, granola, and juice.

According to the Office of State Public Instruction, more than half of the nearly 25,000 students in the Kent School District qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Another district mom, Meg Heron, was organizing snacks and drinks for striking teachers. She decided to help Giampapa instead. They share a love of Excel spreadsheets, and a goal of making sure students are fed.

Heron estimates they give out 900 sack lunches each day, thanks to community donations.

“It’s been amazing the response we’ve gotten from the community,” Heron said. “And it just gives me a lot of hope for Kent and Covington as well.”

Heron and Giampapa say they’re prepared to keep the free lunch program as long as it’s needed.