Meet Some Of The People Who Make LAUSD's Food Relief Efforts Possible

Yesterday, we explained how the Los Angeles Unified School District is using its existing school nutrition operations to provide food relief to kids and adults in need during the coronavirus school closures.

Now, we want to introduce you to some of the more than 2,900 workers who make that effort possible.

Essential workers like principal stock clerk Willie Harris:

Willie Harris has been an employee at LAUSD for 25 years. He works with a team of six to pull thousands of cases of frozen food every day. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Class A Commercial Truck Driver Danny Medina:

Danny Medina stands near his truck after finishing all his safety checks. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

And Virgil Middle School cafeteria manager Rocio Villanueva:

Cafeteria manager Rocio Villanueva (center) poses for a picture with the other grab-and-go workers at Virgil Middle School. (Courtesy of Rocio Villanueva)

While LAUSD figures out how it will cover the $78 million still needed to provide food to children and adults "no questions asked," the work of Harris, Medina, Villanueva, and more than 2,900 other workers and volunteers allow the nation's second largest school district to hand out more than half a million meals every weekday.

"We understand that the kids – this might be their only meal," Harris told LAist. "So we try to do our best every day to make sure that these kids get exactly what they need."

"This is what we do," Villanueva explained. "We serve."

LEARN MORE:

• WATCH: We Take You Inside LAUSD's Food Distribution Machine
• LAUSD Is Handing Out Millions Of Meals To Kids And Adults. How Do They Do It? And Can They Afford It?

RESOURCES:

• Maps: LA & OC Families In Need Can Get Free Food At These Places While Schools Are Closed
• Where To Get Financial Assistance, Food And More During The Coronavirus Crisis

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.