Here’s where Columbus-area kids can get free meals during coronavirus school closures
Despite being closed because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic known as COVID-19, Columbus-area school districts have announced these locations for students to still get free meals.
Muscogee County
To uphold additional safety precautions and reduce in-person contact, the Muscogee County School District will adjust its free meal service dates. Effective April 20, meals will be distributed three days per week, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
MCSD will distribute two breakfasts and two lunches Mondays and Wednesdays and one breakfast and one lunch Fridays through a grab-and-go service, to all children enrolled in any K-12 educational setting.
Meals will be available at the following schools:
- Baker Middle School
- Carver High School
- J.D. Davis Elementary School
- Dawson Elementary School
- Double Churches Middle School
- Fox Elementary School
- Key Elementary School
- Spencer High School.
Buses also will deliver meals at the following sites:
- Elizabeth Canty Apartments
- Chase Homes
- Eagle Trace Apartments
- Former 30th Avenue Preschool, 151 30th Avenue
- Jordan Vocational High School
- Kendrick High School (front of school area)
- Midland Academy
- Victory Mission, 3200 Plateau Drive
- Warren Williams Apartments
- Whisperwood Apartments
- Wilson Apartments.
MCSD doesn’t require students to be present, allowing the parent or guardian to pick up the meals. Meals must not be consumed on site.
Updates related to the district’s COVID-19 Pandemic Plan can be found on the MCSD website.
Phenix City
Phenix City Schools has changed its schedule to provide free meals to all children (ages 18 and younger) at the following sites once per week, Wednesdays from 11-11:30 a.m. , when they will receive five breakfasts and five lunches, superintendent Randy Wilkes told the L-E:
- Central High School
- Ridgecrest Elementary School
- Westview Elementary School
- Frederick Douglas Apartments
- Riverview Apartments
- L.P. Stough Apartments
- Laurel Manor Mobile Homes
- Suntrace Mobile Homes.
Meals must be consumed off site. Parents may pick up the meals on behalf of their children if they submit the form they were emailed, Wilkes said.
Harris County
The Harris County School District has updated its free meal service since Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order to shelter in place.
To reduce the number of chances for exposure to the virus, instead of a daily pickup schedule Mondays through Fridays, HCSD now will serve a week’s supply of meals (five breakfasts and five lunched) on Mondays.
HCSD also added three locations. Here’s the updated schedule, from 11 a.m. to noon, unless otherwise noted:
- Hamilton — Park Elementary School, 13185 U.S. Hwy. 27
- Pine Mountain — Pine Lane Apartments, 134 S Church Avenue
- Shiloh — City Hall, 1175 Main Street, 11-11:30 a.m.
- Waverly Hall — Melody Lakes Fire Station, 924 Melody Drive
- Whitesville — Pine Lake Chapel, 1159 West Pine Lake Drive, 11-11:30 a.m.
- Whitesville — Dollar General, 15976 Georgia Hwy. 219, 11:35 a.m. to noon
- Fortson — Dollar General, 22 Kennon Road
- Pine Mountain Valley — Dollar General, 2361 D St., 11:35 a.m. to noon
- Ellerslie — Bethesda Baptist Church, 3830 Georgia Hwy. 85
- Cataula — Billy’s Supermarket, 3740 U.S. Hwy. 27.
For more information, call 706-628-4206, ext. 1213.
Russell County
The Russell County School District has announced it will provide free meals to all children (ages 18 and younger) at alternative locations.
According to RCSD’s news release, drop-off times could vary depending on the delivery distance, but meals are expected to be available from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays at:
- Hurtsboro City Hall
- Hatchechubbee Fire Department
- Pittsview Post Office
- Russell County Middle School
- Mt. Olive Primary/Intermediate School
- Westgate Pool House
- Ladonia Elementary School
- Woodland Drive Baptist Church
- Crawford Fire Department
- Dixie Elementary School.
Children must be present to receive a meal. Meals must be consumed off site.
Chattahoochee County
Chattahoochee County Schools has reduced its daily deliveries to twice per week to decrease possible exposure to the virus, superintendent Kristie Brooks told the L-E. Here are the locations and times for children ages 18 and younger to receive five meals and snacks Mondays and Thursdays:
McNaughton area, Green Bus 10-1:
- 1 p.m. Miller Road and Hickman Road
- 1:15 p.m. Gordy Mill Pond Road and Eagle Brook Lane (Red Oak)
- 1:30 p.m. City Park
- 1:45 p.m. King Street and McNaughton Street.
Firetower/Steeplechase area, Purple Bus 20-2:
- 10:55 a.m. Firetower Road at Fire Station 2
- 11:10 a.m. Firetower Road and Pine Hill Road
- 11:30 a.m. Windy Hill Subdivision at Paul Revere
- 11:45 a.m. Indian Hills Road (Red Canyon Road)
- 11:55 a.m. Steeplechase at Georgia Highway 26
- 12:10 p.m. 543 Georgia Highway 137
- 12:20 p.m. Georgia Highway 137 and Georgia Highway 26 (In the Curve).
Ranch/Broad Street area, Brown Bus 20-1:
- 11 a.m. Corral Drive and Ranch Road
- 11:05 a.m. Mustang and Trotter Ridge Road
- 11:25 a.m. 126 Old 280 (Old Mathis Café)
- 11:40 a.m. Manta Road and Gordy Mill Pond Road
- 11:50 a.m. Old Louvale Road at Fire Station 1
- 11:55 a.m. Wynn Street and Broad Street
- 12:05 p.m. Wells Street and Mt. Olive (sheriff’s office)
- 12:10 p.m. 321 Wells Street
- 12:15 p.m. 131 Lafayette Road (if necessary)
River Bend TP area, Blue Bus 17-1:
- 1 p.m. Patty Drive and Thompson Street
- 1:05 p.m. 436 Old Louvale Road
- 1:10 p.m. River Bend Trailer Park
- 1:25 p.m. S. Greer & Massey Road.
Lee County
Lee County Schools has announced children 18 and younger will be provided seven days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches April 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT, at these locations:
- Beauregard Elementary School
- Beulah Elementary School
- East Smiths Station Elementary School
- Loachapoka High School
- Smiths Station High School.
Food will be distributed in a drive-through procedure on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available while supplies last. The children the food is intended for must be in the vehicle at pickup time. For the safety of the employees and families, the food will only be loaded into only the trunk of the vehicle.
Closings, cancellations
Click here for a list of other Columbus area public and private schools are closed, and click here for event cancellations in the Chattahoochee Valley.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
