By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Update: 1:18 p.m. Monday, April 21
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Update: 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 20
Even more local restaurants stepped up over the weekend to offer discounted meals to children this week after the USD 489 grab-and-go meal program had to be suspended after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Applebee's, Wendy's, Taco Bell and Pheasant Run Pancake House have all introduced low-cost meals for children this week. See flyers on these offers below.
The Press already announced 750 free meals. The Kiwanis are paying for $1,000 worth of free Happy Meals at McDonald's. McDonald's has dropped its price for Happy Meals to $1.
Paisley Pear and Old Chicago are also offering discounted prices for pizza for children.
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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
More community members are stepping up to fill the gap after the USD 489 grab-and-go meal program was forced to close when an employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The program will be shut down through April 26.
Hays McDonald's has agreed to drop the price of its Happy Meals to $1 each from April 20 to 24. The price will be honored at both the McDonald's north and south locations. No special coupon is needed to take advantage of the offer.
Hays Kiwanis announced Saturday it would buy $1,000 worth of gift certificates that could be used toward Happy Meals for children. The children do not need any special coupons to qualify for the free happy meals.
The $1,000 will be split between the north and south Hays McDonald's locations.
Michele Springer, Kiwanis president, said the donation should purchase 925 meals when the tax is figured into the purchases.
Springer said the Kiwanis decided to move forward with the donation even though its largest fundraiser, the Wild West Festival beer garden, has been canceled.
The organization is continuing with its flag program. It places flags at businesses and residences for $40 per year.
The school district was providing 1,600 meals per day, five days per week as of earlier this week.
The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is also raising money to help defray the cost of the Happy Meals. It is coordinating with Big Brothers Big Sisters to make sure the funds are directed to the families most in need.
Donations can be made through Venmo through Becky Rogowski, ECMA secretary, or Heidi Wasmer, USD 489 teacher, at @Becky-Rogowski or @Heidi-Wamser. You can also make donations using PayPal, credit card using Rogowski's Square, check or cash.
For more information on donating, contact Rogowski at 785-623-0179 or Heidi Wamser at 785-259-3821.
The Press has partnered with the United Way, the Hays Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Hays Development Corp. to provide 750 free lunches.
They will be offered 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Paisley Pear is offering $1 cheese flatbread pizzas for any child in grades kindergarten through 12th grades from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday next week.
There will be about a 15 minute wait time on the pizzas once they are ordered.
On Saturday Old Chigaco announced they would also be offering $1 pizzas for any student K-12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April 20-24. They will also be offering free pizzas on Wednesday for students.
USD 489 announced Thursday night it would close its grab-and-go meal program. An employee tested positive for COVID-19 from an exposure outside of work, USD 489 said in a news release.
The individual did not come in direct contact with students, families or volunteers, according to USD 489.