“ The Kid Pack Program was originally designed to provide students registered for the free lunch program with some food for over the weekend , and to provide food on days when they didn ’ t have school breakfasts and lunches available ,” said Petersen , who added that the packs used to typically include an easy mac and granola bar .
Once COVID hit , they shifted to sending out more of a meal pack including such things as spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce . “ We wanted to help provide a more substantial meal for kids who were staying home all day and participating in distance learning ,” said Petersen . it quickly became clear they wouldn ’ t be transporting people again any time soon . The new role they came up with , partnering with other agencies in the community to transport food . Since the pandemic struck , Newtrax has transported more than 70 tons of food .
“ We built a tremendous number of relationships , whether it be with a school district in St . Paul , or area emergency food shelves , to get food delivered to seniors and families in need . Additionally , we worked with a lot of local restaurants to help them get back on their feet while still serving communities with food ,” said Scott
Olson , Community Transportation Coordinator for Newtrax .
Using grant money and CARES Act funding , 25,000 meals thus far have been purchased from local restaurants and then delivered to those in need . Another 800,000 meals were delivered through Newtrax ’ s partnership with Loaves and Fishes and the YMCA .
Another source of funding that helped make transportation services possible was $ 100,000 in grants and donations provided by The City of Vadnais Heights , White Bear Lake , Mahtomedi , White Bear Township and Gem Lake ;
Newtrax
Newtrax , which is also headquartered in White Bear Lake , is another nonprofit that changed its business model to better serve its neighbors during a time of crisis . Since its founding in 2011 , the nonprofit ’ s primarily role in the community has been to provide transportation for seniors , and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities .
As the day programs that service those communities closed due to COVID ,
24 Northeast Metro Business