The old sign at the Kindergarten entrance of Kent Elementary will be taken down this summer. A new LED sign will be placed where the long "Kent Elementary" banner is now. (Grace Kennedy/The Observer)

The old sign at the Kindergarten entrance of Kent Elementary will be taken down this summer. A new LED sign will be placed where the long "Kent Elementary" banner is now. (Grace Kennedy/The Observer)

Kent Elementary launches food voucher program

Breakfast, lunch now grocery vouchers amid pandemic

  • Apr. 7, 2020 12:00 a.m.

A collage of teacher greetings met the students and parents of Kent Elementary on Monday morning.

“Dear Kent Elementary Students, we miss you very much and want you to know that even though we are apart, we are together at heart. Please stay safe!” reads the heartfelt message, written one hand-crafted word at a time in a photo collage from all the teachers.

The elementary school recently launched a voucher program in lieu of their regularly scheduled breakfast and lunch programs for students in need.

WATCH: Orange Shirt Day founder visits Kent Elementary

“We’ve taken the funds we already have at the school and developed vouchers for those families that had been depending on us for breakfast and lunches,” said Stan Watchorn, Kent Elementary principal. Watchorn said within the week, the school would be sending a $50 voucher per child every two weeks to specific families to help out with food requirements.

Kent Elementary to get new LED sign

The school collaborated with Super Valu to make the program happen. Watchorn also credited school staff, local churches and volunteers for their significant contribution to the food program over the course of the past few years.

Watchorn added the program could be extended if necessary.

“We’re just going to carry on and help as much as we can,” Watchorn said. “[Staff and volunteers] have just done a wonderful job.”


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