CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With all public schools in North Carolina and South Carolina closed for at least the next two weeks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, millions of children will be impacted when it comes to having enough food to eat at home.
To help ease some parents' concerns, districts in the Charlotte area will be offering meals to students during the closings.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Superintendent Earnest Winston announced Monday that beginning Tuesday, March 17, CMS will provide grab and go lunches and breakfast for students at approximately 70 locations throughout Mecklenburg County.
Parents will stay in their cars, a staff member will hand meals through the window to people in the drive-thru line. Children must be present to get the meals, which will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If families are unable to pick up food, CMS will make arrangements to deliver meals.
CMS released the full list of meal locations on Twitter. You can see the full list at this link.
Gaston County Schools
Beginning Tuesday, March 17, Gaston County Schools will offer "grab and go" lunches for students. Meals will be distributed at 11 locations throughout the county: Bessemer City High, Carr Elementary School, Cherryville Elementary, Erwin Community Center, Grier Middle, School, Kiser Elementary, North Belmont Elementary, Robinson Elementary, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Warlick Academy and Woodhill Elementary.
Distribution will take place Monday-Friday from Tuesday, March 17 until Friday, March 27 from 10:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. Families can pick up meals at any of the 11 locations, regardless of where they live or attend school in the county. All meals will be provided free of charge.
Cleveland County Schools
Free lunch pickup will provided at all schools *EXCEPT* Burns High, Crest High, Kings Mountain High, Shelby Middle, North Shelby and East. Lunch pickup is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a..m until 1 p.m. Pickup location is the front entrance of each school unless directed otherwise. Meals can be picked up at any school and children do not have to be enrolled at the school providing the meal. In addition to lunch, a bagged breakfast will be provided for each child.
Mooresville Graded Schools
Beginning Tuesday, March 17, Mooresville Graded Schools will have breakfast and lunches available for pickup at South Elementary School at no cost to students. Meals are available for all MGSD students.
Stanly County Schools
There are two options for students to receive meals. All meals are provided at NO COST for all schools.
Option 1: Buses will deliver meals between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at normally scheduled stops and all Stanly County students can come to a bus stop for a meal. A school messenger will be sent from the school when the route begins and parents can use the Here Comes The Bus app for more exact times.
Option 2: Drive-thru options will be allowed at eight schools: East Albemarle, Central, Badin, Albemarle High, Albemarle Middle, Norwood, South Stanly Middle School and Stanfield. Drive-thru locations will operate from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. They will be located in the schools' car rider line, with the exception of Badin, which will be located in the back parking lot.
Kannapolis City Schools
KCS has established "Grab and Go" lunches for students during the mandated closure of schools. Beginning Monday, any student can get free breakfast and lunch at one of five distribution sites or via meal delivery service. If you are unable to access either of these, call the KCS helpline at 704-92-2222.
- A.L. Brown High School
- Fred L. Wilson Elementary
- Jackson Park Elementary School
- McKnight Head Start
- Woodrow Wilson Elementary School
Mobile meal delivery will be provided from 12 p.m. until 12:30 p.m. for students who can't get to the meal distribution sites. Free lunches and bagged breakfasts will be delivered to the following locations:
- 450 Cabarrus Arms Drive (Cabarrus Arms Apartments)
- 620 Atlantic Street (West Green Apartments)
- 703 Buick Avenue (Calvary Baptist Church)
- 905 Sears Street
- Kidd Street and Canyon Lane
- Kimball Street and Cove Road
- Leisure Park Circle
- Sandy Court and Ridge Way Drive
- Superior Avenue and Fowler Street
- Wren Street and Independence Square
Rock Hill Shools
The district will offer free "grab and go" breakfast and lunches at five locations to all students. Breakfast will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals are available to all children 18 or younger. To pick up a meal, families are encouraged to visit the location closest to them. Children must be present with a parent or guardian to receive a free meal.
- Belleview Elementary, 501 Belleview Road
- Finley Road Elementary, 1089 Finley Road
- Richmond Drive Elementary, 1162 Richmond Drive
- Rosewood Elementary, 2240 Rosewood Drive
- Oakdale Elementary, 1129 Oakdale Road
York School District 1
York Schools will have a drive-thru meal pickup for students. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. all families with students in York School District 1 can go to York High School and pick up a school lunch for each student. This will continue through the mandatory closure. Pickup will be available off Lincoln Road and signs will be posted on campus to direct parents where to go.
Beginning Wednesday, March 18, the district will start delivering meals to students via bus routes. More information will be provided to parents later this week.
Chesterfield County School District
Beginning Monday through Wednesday, all schools will prepare a light breakfast and bag lunch for pickup. Breakfast will be available from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. On Thursday, March 19, meals will be available from a selected area school. More information will be provided to parents this week.