A JJ Pack is pictured. JJ Packs is preparing shipments of food to create another 400 packs for Friday. (Photo courtesy of JJ Packs)

MARQUETTE — With many stores’ shelves emptying in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and organizations around Marquette County are teaming up together to make sure local students don’t go hungry.

On Friday, JJ Packs volunteers packed 400 packs and delivered them to the Marquette Senior High School, organizers said. MAPS is serving free breakfast and lunch at multiple locations beginning today.

For breakfast, MAPS is currently offering yogurt, string cheese, muffin, fruit, fruit juice and milk. Lunch is a sandwich, crackers or chips, fruit, baby carrots and milk. JJ Packs will offer dry and canned goods during this emergency, while supplies last.

The schedule is:

≤ Marquette Senior High School, 8 to 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inside the school under the canopy entrance;

≤ Graveraet Elementary School, 10:50 to 11:10 a.m. at the employee parking lot;

≤ Superior Hills Elementary School, 11:20 to 11:40 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the school;

≤ and Cherry Creek Elementary School, noon to 12:20 p.m. at the parking lot in front of the school.

Staff will handle the food from the back of the food truck with the exception of MSHS. The truck is red with a white box.

MAPS announced that students do not need to be present while the families are picking up supplies. A family can pick up lunch, breakfast and a JJ Pack all in one visit.

MAPS said in a news release that since many families have multiple children, it is acceptable for an adult to pick up breakfast, lunch and a JJ Pack for several children.

MAPS and JJ Packs wanted to find a way to provide food for children while also limiting exposure of the coronavirus that continues to spread throughout the nation, said Nicole Holder, a volunteer coordinator of JJ Packs. Due to this, the meals are ready-to-go meals in which students can pick up during the hours of operation while also practicing social distancing. Children under 18 do not need to be signed up to receive a pack, Holder said.

“Our JJ Packs team has always been committed to helping our kids get through the weekends. Right now, that task may be a little bigger, but we are also seeing a great response from the community. We are reminded about why we love to live here in Marquette,” Holder said. “It may be a cliche, but it really does take a village. Now we will see what our village can do.”

The first round of donations came from business sponsorships. Donations have continued to support the cause and if people are looking to donate, they can purchase gift cards at Econo Foods or Super One for JJ Packs to pick up at the stores. But Holder said the best way to donate is electronically to practice staying inside, and they can donate any funds at marquette.revtrak.net/jjpacks. People can also write checks to JJ Packs and mail them to 611 Front St., Marquette, Michigan, 49855.

Normally, JJ Packs packs 250 packs per week throughout seven schools, and they’re continuing to pack another 400 for this Friday to see what the need is, Holder said. Transportation may limit how many times a child may be able to receive a pack, so Holder encouraged people to take what they need while also thinking of others.

Gwinn Area Community Schools announced that for those 18 and under, a sack lunch and breakfast kit for the next day will be available. Meals may be picked up at the canopy bus entrance at Gwinn Middle/High School and at K.I. Sawyer Elementary School from 11 a.m. to noon for the next two weeks.

Hannah Erickson, coordinator of the Gwinn Paw Packs program, said packing is taking place for kids on the regular list of recipients, but will help anyone in need. Packing will be every Monday for the entire week, every week until school opens.

The Up North Lodge in Forsyth Township, Erickson said, is accepting cash and these food items for the program: oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, soup, pasta, canned food, granola bars and crackers.

Beginning Wednesday, Negaunee Public Schools will offer a free sack breakfast and lunch for any child age 18 and younger. Adult meals will be available for purchase for $4. The breakfast will include a breakfast item, fruit and drink while the sack lunch will include a sandwich, fruit, veggie and drink.

Bags can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the gym entrance at Negaunee Middle School, located in the back of the school. Bags for multiple days can be picked up at once.

Ishpeming Public Schools also will offer a free sack breakfast and lunch for any child age 18 and younger, with adult meals available for $5 each. The breakfast will include a breakfast item, fruit and drink while the sack lunch will include a sandwich, fruit, veggie and drink.

Bags can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. beginning Wednesday at the Pearl Street entrance of Ishpeming High/Middle School.

IPS posted on its Facebook page that Hematite Power Packs is working to alleviate “food insecurities” for IPS students. A plan is being developed to have packs available for pickup for students.

North Star Academy will distribute meals to parents, guardians and children, along with Cat Packs for those who receive them, this Thursday and on March 26.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal .net. Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.