The idea of a large institution using local foods to supplement their day-to-day meal services sounds next to impossible.

But, it’s not.

Lincoln, Nebraska, is home to Bryan Health, a 550-bed, nonprofit, locally owned, health care organization that serves patients throughout Nebraska, as well as parts of Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, and other states in the region.

Rural communities are showcasing resiliency by ensuring kids are fed during widespread school closures caused by the coronavirus.

In my hometown of West Point, Nebraska, the schools have closed for the time being like many other communities. In nearby Kansas, they just announced closure for the remainder of the school year. With so many uncertainties surrounding us, where the next meal is coming from should not be one of them. This should especially not be a concern for growing young bodies who happen to be our rural legacy.