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Donovan Mitchell may be keeping himself isolated from his loved ones for their own safety, but the Utah Jazz star is looking to make the most of his current situation. The second NBA player to test positive for the coronavirus is looking to help local students in the Granite School District get free meals in the meantime.
Mitchell made his announcement on ABC's “Good Morning America,” and the Jazz issued a release on the news:
“As we all navigate the challenges that have arisen with COVID-19, there are many people impacted. My mom’s career in education made me value children and the importance of academics, and I want to make sure that kids can continue to eat a meal while they can’t go to school.
“Our community is resilient and unified, and seeing how people have come together during this time makes me proud to represent this great state,” said Mitchell, who made the original announcement nationally via ABC Good Morning America today.
The Granite School District has 88 schools serving 67,730 students in Salt Lake City. The Jazz youngster's donation will help subsidize the program for up to 10,040 students per day. Here's how it works:
Under this program, any child under the age of 19, including preschool children, can show up at a designated site and eat a meal at no charge. During regular school days, vulnerable students are served meals in programs largely funded by the federal government. This partnership between Mitchell and Granite School District helps address gaps in service while school is out of session and for students who may not typically qualify under the federal guidelines.
An average breakfast at schools is priced at nearly $1.60 for high school students, while the school lunches cost around $2.75, according to a School Nutrition Association survey from 2018. The prices for middle school and elementary school are slightly lower.
The current situation certainly calls for extraordinary measures, and the Jazz star is certainly doing his part with this generous donation. He's doing everything he can to make sure that the kids in his community will continue to get the nutrition they badly need.
The Granite School District will be forever thankful for this act of kindness from one of the league's most exciting stars, and this move should endear Donovan Mitchell to the Jazz fan base even more.
