p>Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDOE) Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum, Ph.D., has announced that food supplies for the School Lunch Program in the St. Croix School District are being fully replenished through local vendors. As of Jan. 25, Merchants Market on St. Croix resumed supplying the DOE with food items. Additionally, Plaza Extra East and West, Stop and Shop and other local merchants are providing fresh fruit and other goods to the lunch program.
An outstanding balance of $36,000 owed to Merchants Market by DOE was paid in full, but the food distributor maintained its postponement of orders to government agencies, including DOE, until all government accounts were made current. The business reversed its decision on Jan. 25 and resumed supplying the lunch program with goods.
Students participating in the School Lunch Program saw a variety of menu items included in meals on Thursday, Jan. 26. Some menu items were depleted during the temporary postponement of orders.
DOE is committed to providing students with healthy and balanced meals as part of its mandate to educate the whole child. The department regrets the interruption of services in its School Lunch Program on St. Croix, and it thanks the community for its support as the matter was being resolved.
