In response to COVID-19, the Mehlville School District has plans to further help their students during the pandemic. Looking into more specific acts of assistance, transportation staff have been providing students and parents services. 

One such service is food distribution, which started during the spring and early summer of 2020. Other than transporting food to students, bus drivers are also delivering supplies and taking students to and from school for teacher interventions.  

Director of transportation, Dan Gilman, said, “Personally it is rewarding to help the students, staff and the community. We strive to support the district in any way we can.” 

Services are being provided for families and students who might not have the ability to meet with their teacher, pick up meals or supplies. Free Grab-and-Go meals are available at schools in the Mehlville School District through December for children between the ages of 1 and 18. As of now, food delivery and distribution takes place Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. A meal request form can be found on the district website with more details about curbside pickups and dropoffs.

“The services we offer are a stress reliever for families. This has impacted me in a good way! It warms my soul to see how much good we can do with a simple gesture,” said Annette Koberman, Mehlville School District bus driver. “I love my job, and it does make you look at how many people rely on you every day.” 

Approximately 100 bus drivers are working to provide services to the students as well as schools. Besides delivering lunches and supplies, the transportation staff at Mehlville are also helping with custodial duties and maintenance. 

“A bus driver brought me my textbooks for English class. It made me feel really grateful that they took time out of their day to help me out!” Mariam Ayoub, an eighth grade student from Washington Middle School said. 

Families who need assistance or help with supplies, meals or transportation can contact their child’s school or talk with the department of transportation to organize a date or set up a schedule. For contact information, visit the Mehlville School District website.