School district plans dozens of drive-through meals in Manatee County
The School District of Manatee County will expand its free meal services on Monday, the first day of online classes, by rolling out a system of drive-through locations.
All locations will provide children with a lunch, along with a breakfast to eat the next day. Dozens of sites will open on Monday and continue through April 15, as schools remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.
“This program is designed to ensure that children have access to nutrition during the time when school lunches and breakfasts are not available,” the release states. “This service is not based on income status, and all children in Manatee County who are 18 and younger will be able to participate.”
All times and locations are subject to change. For more information, visit www.manateeschoolfood.net.
School Sites
Local schools will host a majority of the drive-through locations, operating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. between Monday and Friday. The district plans to open 30 school sites:
- Abel Elementary
- Ballard Elementary
- Bashaw Elementary
- Bayshore High
- Blackburn Elementary
- Braden River High
- Braden River Middle
- Buffalo Creek Middle
- Daughtrey Elementary
- Haile Middle
- Harllee Center
- Johnson/Wakeland K-8
- King Middle
- Kinnan Elementary
- Lakewood Ranch High
- Lee Middle
- Manatee Elementary
- Manatee High
- Miller Elementary
- Myakka Elementary
- Oneco Elementary
- Palm View Elementary
- Palmetto Elementary
- Palmetto High
- Prine Elementary
- Samoset Elementary
- Seabreeze Elementary
- Sugg Middle
- Tara Elementary
- Tillman Elementary
Community Sites
Manatee plans to offer the same program at five community locations, each operating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. between Monday and Friday.
- 13th Avenue Community Center, 922 24th St. E., Bradenton.
- East Migrant Head Start, 34590 State Road 64 E., Myakka City.
- Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto.
- The Source Church, 5412 State Road 64, Bradenton.
- Wee Care, 10540 Hamilton Way, Myakka City.
Bus Sites
Buses will set up and distribute the same meals at locations in Bradenton and Palmetto. The district plans to operate seven bus sites:
- Turner Chapel, 317 11th St. W., Palmetto, from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
- Palmetto Youth Center, 501 17th St. W., Palmetto, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Southeast High School, 1200 37th Ave. E., Bradenton, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Bradenton Village Apartments, 1302 Third St. W., Bradenton, from noon to 12:30 p.m.
- DeSoto Boys and Girls Club, 5236 30th St. W., Bradenton, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Manatee Mobile Home Park, 2204 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton, from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
- City Stop, 619 11th Ave. E., Bradenton, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The district plans to operate all of the locations between Monday and April 15.
“Times and locations of the mobile feeding bus stops, school sites and community sites can be found on the Manatee County Food and Nutrition Serivce’s website: www.manateeschoolfood.net,” the news release states.