Henrico Schools to set up student-meal sites for free ‘grab and go’ breakfasts and lunches

Henrico students and others younger than 18 years old will be able to pick up free meals from six spots in Henrico County beginning Tuesday, while public schools are closed because of the COVID-19 virus.

The effort is designed to provide food for students who depend upon the meals they eat at school.

Packaged lunches and breakfasts will be available each site between 11 a.m. and noon on a first-come, first-served basis. Food distribution is open to all students, regardless of what school they attend. Adults must be accompanied by each child under 18 who needs a meal.

Pick-up hours and locations may increase, depending upon demand, according to school officials.

Five schools will operate as hubs for distribution, where food will be prepared, packaged and distributed to students. Meals will also be transported to Henrico Volunteer Rescue Squad 31 in Sandston, to be distributed. Locations may be expanded for the week of March 23-27, depending on demand. If the school closure period is extended past March 30, HCPS leaders will assess the status of the food distribution program.

The student meal distribution sites are:
• Fairfield Middle School, 5121 Nine Mile Road, Henrico, Va. 23223
• Glen Lea Elementary School, 3909 Austin Ave., Henrico, Va. 23222
• Hermitage High School, 8301 Hungary Spring Road, Henrico, Va. 23228
• Highland Springs Elementary School, 600 Pleasant Street, Highland Springs, Va. 23075
• Quioccasin Middle School, 9400 Quioccasin Road, Henrico, Va. 23238
• Henrico Volunteer Rescue Squad 31, 5301 Huntsman Road, Sandston, Va. 23150

Donations being accepted, too

If you’d like to help families in need during the outbreak, the HCPS Department of Family and Community Engagement is partnering with the Department of Equity, Diversity and Opportunities to accept donations of food, hygiene products and money.

Donations will serve students and families as supplemental food and supplies on weekends during the HCPS closure period for coronavirus. The donations are designed to complement the distribution sites for student “grab and go” meals on weekdays.

“We are sensitive to the vulnerability of our families during this time,” said Adrienne Cole Johnson, HCPS’ director of family and community engagement. “We have significant numbers of students in our normal weekend backpack food program, and during this closure, those students stood a chance of losing those important meals. We are so grateful to everyone who’s reached out to us, asking about supporting our families. We want to honor that generosity.”

Donations will be accepted at the New Bridge Learning Center, 5915 Nine Mile Road, at Exit Door 7, on:
• March 16 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• March 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• March 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Suggested breakfast donation items include juice boxes, cereal, instant oatmeal, cereal bars or granola bars or toaster pastries. Suggested lunch donation items include fruit cups, applesauce cups, canned pasta in sauce, individual snack bags (pretzels, mini graham crackers, mini cheddar crackers, chips, cookies, etc.), soup, individual macaroni and cheese cups, peanut butter, jelly (non-glass jars) and canned meat.

Suggested hygiene donation items include disinfectant wipes, hand soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products.

“We can only mitigate the impact of this crisis if we work together and practice social distancing. But we must also ensure families who are most vulnerable during this crisis receive support,” said Monica Manns, chief equity, diversity and opportunities officer. “Many families have neither the means, nor physical space, to stock up on food and supplies for an extended period of time. This is why we have a plan that increasingly provides meals and supplies over time. I would like to personally thank the many community members and HCPS staff who have reached out to provide supplies and serve as volunteers. It reminds me that we truly are one Henrico.”

In addition to food items and supplies, monetary donations will be accepted through the Henrico Education Foundation. If inclined to provide funds, visit http://henricogives.org/ and click on the blue “Donate” button under the COVID-19 donation text. Donations made for this purpose would be used to purchase supplies for families in need.

For details, contact Johnson at accole1@henrico.k12.va.us or 652-3716 or Manns at mmanns@henrico.k12.va.us or 652-3845.