The closure of schools to prevent the spread of coronavirus has left some children without the cafeteria meals that some of them depend on. The Simpson County School District responded by starting to distribute individual meals last Monday Monday, March 23.
These are Grab and Go sandwich-type meals for lunch and breakfast. Children 18 and under may participate in the program, whether or not they are public school students.
This will be a drive-through pick up program open Mondays through Fridays only, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Meals will be handed out to parents in their vehicles. However, each child receiving a meal must be present in the vehicle to get a meal.
Meals will be available at Magee Elementary, Mendenhall Elementary and Simpson Central.
The purpose is to offer food for students when other options may not be available. The program will start with 200 meals available at Magee and Mendenhall and 100 at Simpson Central. Those numbers can be adjusted as needed based on the number of children served. No additional meals will be given to adults, and no extra meals will be sold.
According to a spokesman for the school district, this program will be continued as long as sustainable and a need is determined. These meals are being made available through Food Services of the Simpson County School District.
Students will also receive a free book to read daily, made available through the Read to Me Program.
