Henrico Schools to provide 400 additional meals after closing winter food sign-up

Henrico Schools will distribute approximately 400 additional meal packages to families after the division’s winter meal sign-up launched last month was halted due to overwhelming demand.

The additional meals will be provided to families directly identified by HCPS’ Family and Community Engagement team as needing support, HCPS Communications Director Eileen Cox said. HCPS FACE worked with school counselors, school social workers, and McKinney-Vento staff to identify and reach out to these families. (The McKenney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 provides funding for homeless populations, including access to public schools for homeless children.)

HCPS’ initial winter meals sign-up, launched on Nov. 19 in partnership with the Henrico Community Food Bank, allowed for 500 families to receive meal packages during the period that HCPS will be closed for winter break. However, within less than an hour of the sign-up being posted to HCPS’ social media pages and ParentSquare, the form reached capacity and was closed. The sign-up originally was intended to be open until Nov. 26.

The unexpected demand prompted HCPS to work with community partners and the Henrico Board of Supervisors to expand the food distribution to more families, HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell said.

“Our commitment is to always do what is best for our students and families,” Cashwell said in a Dec. 16 announcement posted by HCPS. “These resources mean the world to so many of our families and we are incredibly grateful to have the support.”

Families who completed the initial sign-up as well as families who will be receiving the additional meals can pick up the food packages on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Hermitage High School’s ACE Center. The 400 additional food packages will contain shelf-stable food items similar to those in the initial packages. 

School-based leadership staff and school counselors will ensure that the additional meals are going to families with the most need, Cashwell said. 

“We are working with leadership and student support teams at each of our schools to make sure the food items are going to the people who need them most,” she said. “Our school-based teams have deep connections to our families and understand their challenges, and they will do a terrific job reaching out to our families to offer this support.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.