Henrico Schools' free meal service phasing into once-weekly format soon

The free meal service provided by Henrico County Public Schools will offer five-day pick-up options this week and next before transitioning to a once-weekly format on Wednesdays beginning March 10. The changes are the result of in-person learning resuming Feb. 22 for those students whose families selected it.

During this week and next, meal pickup will be offered from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at all participating middle and high schools Monday and Tuesday and at all participating elementary, middle and high school sites Wednesday through Friday. During the same two weeks, neighborhood bus-stop delivery will occur on Wednesday only with bulk meals for five days provided.

Then beginning March 10, all curbside and bus-stop distribution will take place on Wednesdays only, with bulk meals for five days provided.

Under the new timeline for a gradual return to in-person learning, each week contains a “Wellness Wednesday,” characterized by two hours of teacher-led virtual learning for elementary schools, more independent learning time, academic and social-emotional support, teacher planning and professional learning time, and additional deep cleaning of schools. Because in-person students will not be on campuses on Wednesdays, traffic will be minimized for families picking up school meals, prompting school officials to choose that day for meal distribution.

Schools offering curbside service will remain the same for now, as will the bus-stop sites for neighborhood distribution. View a list of all locations at https://henricoschools.us/free-school-meals/.

HCPS will continue offering free school meals to all students through the end of the 2020-21 school year through both methods.