Dear Editor:

Thank you to the donors who in the last week answered our request for assistance and have financially contributed to our food service program. To date, we have received over $21,000 in donations. Our dedicated kitchen staff, all considered essential service providers during this pandemic, continue to prepare over 200 nutritious and healthy lunches and breakfasts for the young people in our community. We are compensated partly by the state and federal government, however, the rate of reimbursement is $4 for each lunch we prepare, yet, our food and labor costs are approximately $7 per meal. We operate at a deficit of roughly $600 a day. Given the magnitude of this emergency, we could be serving our students well into the summer months so the need for contributions will continue. If you would like to help us, we have a link on the top of the AOS 98 website where you can donate.(www.aos98schools.org).

Please follow the link to the Boothbay Region Education Fund website and there you will find multiple ways to contribute. Of all that we are doing as a community and a school district during this global crisis, perhaps what will best be remembered is that we ensured that none of our youth went hungry. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Dr. Keith S. Laser, Ed.D.

Superintendent, AOS 98