Manatee School District announces free meals for local children

Free meals will soon be available to Manatee County children, regardless of whether they learn in person or online.

The School District of Manatee County will provide meals to any children 18 or younger, starting on Monday. The meals, which are made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture program, will be available through Dec. 31, according to a news release from the school district.

“This program will allow the School District of Manatee County’s Food and Nutrition Services to serve free meals to all children into the fall months, helping to ensure that children have access to nutritious food as Manatee County recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic,” it states.

Students who attend in-person classes will receive a free breakfast and lunch during the five-day school week. Students on the hybrid schedule will receive a free breakfast and lunch on the days they attend school, along with take-home meals for the three days of online learning each week.

“No meal benefit application is needed during this time,” the news release continues.

Any child in Manatee County, including online students, can pick up free meals by visiting any school from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Mondays.

“Parents/guardians do not have to register for these meals they can simply drive up and pick up,” according to the release. “These meals will contain frozen and refrigerated items.”

For cooking and heating instructions, visit www.manateeschoolfood.net. Menus and allergen facts are available at www.manatee.nutrislice.com.

Among other safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, district employees will wear masks and face shields, the release said.

“Meals will be prepackaged and delivered to cars without contact with the receiver during curbside meal distribution. During school, students are served their food in closed containers,” it concludes.

This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 4:14 PM.