Local students who rely on school meals will be fed during closings

GEORGIA — As schools close for weeks, a top priority for the state Department of Education is making sure children who rely on school for meals get fed.

The following Atlanta schools will be open starting Monday for Atlanta students to pick up food: Douglass High School, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School, Bunche Middle School, Sylvan Middle School and Phoenix Academy at Crim High School.

Students can get free bagged meals Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Channel 2’s Lori Wilson reached out to several area districts and found they are working to make sure kids don’t go hungry.

As districts across Georgia have shut their doors because of coronavirus concerns, community leaders are working with schools to make sure kids who rely on free or reduced lunch still get fed.

“There is a plan that's coming together quite nicely that would allow for geographical food distribution,” Milton Little, CEO of United Way of Georgia, said.

Little said he has been in touch with several districts to figure out how to best support families during this time of need.

“We’ve all been hit with the fact that these schools are closing pretty quickly, and it’s about identifying partners,” Little said.

United Way connects those partners and families through its 211 system. Calling 211 connects families with food banks and shelters and even helps with emergency cash.

The nonprofit Backpack Buddies normally sends students home with backpacks full of food on Fridays. The group, along with the organization Bridging the Gap, and more than a dozen other nonprofits in Coweta County, came together Friday to figure out how to best serve the community.

“Together, we're able to meet the needs of the community. Separately, we may have had shortfalls, so really coming together and working collaboratively has really been the best way pushing forward,” Little said.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank is working with Fulton County Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb County Schools and other districts to offer food for whole families, not just the students in need.

“Folks that need emergency food are going to be able to identify help that is close to where they live,” Kelli Yeager-Nelson, Executive Director of Bridging the Gap, said.

MORE INFO: GaDOE receiving USDA approval for school meal flexibility during COVID-19 outbreak

Atlanta Public Schools Lunch:

Through our partnership with GOODR, we have a plan in place for emergency feeding of APS students and for distributing food outside of APS cafeterias. Five schools – Douglass High, Cleveland Avenue Elementary, Bunche Middle, Sylvan Middle and Phoenix Academy at Crim High School will serve as distribution spots. We will distribute more information as we finish those plans.

Fulton County Schools Lunch:

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, (FCS) Meal Locations:

These sites were selected because they are centrally located and easily reachable for many of our families.

Lake Forest Elementary School 5920 Sandy Springs Circle Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Tri-Cities High School 2575 Harris Street East Point, GA 30344

Mimosa Elementary School 1550 Warsaw Road Roswell, GA 30076

Banneker High School 6015 Feldwood Road College Park, GA 30349

Haynes Bridge Middle School 10665 Haynes Bridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30022

Langston Hughes High School 7510 Hall Road Fairburn, GA 30213

WHO: This program and these meals are for students only. Families can pick up meals for all children under the age of 18, or under the age of 21 for youth with special needs. Children must be present in order for meals to be provided.

This program will be solely for the pick-up of meals, as meals will not be consumed on site. FCS will partner with the Atlanta Food Bank and other non-profit partners to supplement meals for additional family members.

Emily Grody will coordinate the implementation of the meal accommodation, and can be reached at grody@fultonschools.org with any questions regarding Special Diets.

WHEN: Monday, March 16 Wednesday, March 18 Friday, March 20 Hot Lunch Breakfast and Lunch for Tuesday Breakfast for Wednesday Hot Lunch Breakfast and Lunch for Thursday Breakfast for Friday Lunch Breakfast for Monday

If FCS remains closed beyond these dates, an update will be provided by 5 p.m. each Friday. Additional information about meal services will be provided at that time.

DeKalb Co. Schools Lunch:

DeKalb County School District has increased its feeding sites to a total of 23 locations during the COVID-19 closure. All DeKalb County students can receive a free bagged lunch daily, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon at the schools listed.

In addition, DCSD’s partner, DeKalb County government, will provide snacks to students between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the listed recreation centers.

DCSD has also partnered with Atlanta Community Food Bank, which will distribute food once a week beginning March 23, at some of our feeding sites. The District is seeking additional partners.

Free Meals for Students during COVID-19 School Closure

Region I

Cross Keys High

Sequoyah MS

Region II

Idlewood ES

Region III

Lithonia HS

Region IV

Clarkston HS

Region V

Chapel Hill MS

Region VI

Bethune MS

Region VII

McNair MS

Fayette Co. Schools Lunch:

Families who need help with meals for any Fayette County student age 18 and under during the closure can come to the following schools Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for assistance: Spring Hill Elementary and North Fayette Elementary. Distribution of food will be provided by a drive through service.

Rockdale Co. Schools Lunch:

Mobile Meal Routes Now Posted

Meals will be delivered to neighborhoods during the week by RCPS school buses starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, between 10:50 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Meals must be picked up at one of the delivery locations (not at Heritage High or Salem High, where the meals are prepared).

Las comidas serán entregadas a los vecindarios durante la semana en los autobuses escolares de RCPS a partir del martes 17 de marzo de 2020, entre las 10:50 a.m. y las 12:30 p.m. Las comidas deben recogerse en uno de los lugares de entrega (no en Heritage High o Salem High, donde se preparan las comidas).

These are the delivery locations and times (Estos son los lugares y horarios de entrega):

Route

11:20 a.m. Briar Creek Apts

11:30 a.m. Brandon Glen Apts

11:40 a.m. Willow East Apts

11:50 a.m. Knoll Ct. @ Lakeview

12:00 p.m. Greenvalley @ Lakeview

12:10 p.m. Laurel Ct @ Laurel Ln

12:35 p.m. Pinedale Townhomes

12:45 p.m. Forest Villa

Route

11:15 a.m. Nancy Guinn Library

11:25 a.m. Arbor Creek Apts

11:40 a.m. Northridge Subdivision

11:50 a.m. Meadow Crossing Apts.

12:00 p.m. Cooper Cir/Irwin Bridge Rd

12:10 p.m. Edwards Circle

Route

11:10 a.m. Country Walk

11:25 a.m. Shady Grove

11:35 a.m. Woodsprings Suites

11:10 a.m. Woodland Trace Apts

11:20 a.m. Tall Oaks

11:30 a.m. White Oak

11:40 a.m. Hunting Creek

11:55 a.m. Intown Suites

12:15 p.m. Valley Oaks

Route

11:15 a.m. Salem Woods

11:30 a.m. Brandy Woods (2 Stops)

11:45 a.m. Bell Road

11:55 a.m. Lakeridge Subdivision

12:15 p.m. Sugar Hill Subdivision

Route

10:50 a.m. Lakeview Estates

11:40 a.m. Rockhill Subdivision

Route

10:50 a.m. Lakeview Estates

11:40 a.m. Housing Authority

Route

11:20 a.m. Callaway Crossing

11:30 a.m. Granite Drive off Carr Rd

11:40 a.m. Hi Roc Subdivision

12:10 p.m. Keswick Village

Route

11:15 a.m. Lake St. James Apts

11:30 a.m. Motel 6

11:50 a.m. Bridlewood Apts

12:10 p.m. Peaks Landing Apts

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