This week, schools across Florida are offering free meals that children can take home over the holiday break for the first time in recent memory. It comes as many people across the nation grapple with food insecurity and joblessness due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The program is funded by the US Department of Agriculture, and is aimed at helping families that are struggling financially.
It's open to all children 18 and under. Income verification is not required, but caregivers usually need to register in advance.
"As we all know through the pandemic, so many families are being impacted, so being able to feed everyone for free is really a benefit to everyone," said Sara Dan, Sarasota Schools director of food nutrition services.
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Around 800 parents had signed up in Sarasota County as of Tuesday. That's double the number who took advantage of the problem over Thanksgiving break, Dan said.
“We anticipated that the need would grow as people learned about it,” she added.
The deadline to sign up in Sarasota and Manatee counties is Thursday.
A supply of cold or frozen meals, including pizza, pancakes, and fresh fruit, will be handed out at selected schools.
See below for more information on food programs in area counties:
Sarasota:
All families can pick up free meals Friday, December 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. Register by Thursday, December 17.
Please bring student ID, state ID, copy of report card or copy of a birth certificate.
Call 941-486-2199 with questions.
- Fruitville: https://eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-meals-for-children-fruitville-elementary-tickets-131960273731
- Booker High: https://eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-meals-for-children-booker-high-school-tickets-131959531511
- Wilkinson: https://eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-meals-for-children-wilkinson-elementary-tickets-131959286779
- Garden: https://eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-meals-for-children-garden-elementary-tickets-131958835429…
- Atwater: https://eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-meals-for-children-atwater-elementary-tickets-131956883591…
- NPHS: https://eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-meals-for-children-north-port-high-school-tickets-131958428211
Manatee:
Meals need to be ordered by December 17 at www.ManateeSchools.net/CurbsideMeal
Parent/guardians can simply drive-up to receive the meals at the curbside, they do not need to get out of the car. Walk-ups are welcome, as well. These meals will contain frozen and refrigerated items. For cooking and heating instructions, visit www.ManateeSchoolFood.net.
- Pick-Up Days: December 21 and 28
- Pick-Up Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
- Cost: FREE
- Where to Pick-Up: Ballard Elementary, Buffalo Creek Middle, Daughtrey Elementary, Haile Middle, Lee Middle, Lincoln Memorial Acad., Manatee Elementary, Myakka Elementary, Samoset Elementary
Pinellas:
Meals will be available to all children or teenagers in Pinellas County, 18 years old or younger.
Children do not need to be enrolled in PCS schools or be present for pickup.
Pinellas parents will pick-up seven days’ worth of meals – Breakfast, Lunch, PM Snack and Dinner.
No ID is required.
Meals will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Pickup is scheduled for Monday, December 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Eisenhower Elementary School 2800 Drew St, Clearwater, FL 33759
- High Point Elementary School 5921 150th Ave N, Clearwater, FL 33760
- Meadowlawn Middle School 6050 16th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33703
- Palm Harbor Middle School 1800 Tampa Rd, Palm Harbor, FL 34683
- Pinellas Park Middle School 6940 70th Ave N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
- Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School 3901 22nd Ave S, St Petersburg, FL 33711
- Largo High School 410 Missouri Ave N, Largo, FL 33770
Hillsborough:
Winter Break Meal Bag distribution pickup times Wednesday have been changed to 8 am - 3 pm due to inclement weather.
As long as parents/guardians/students have a date of birth and student number, they do not need to pre-register for these meal bags to pick them up for Wednesday and Thursday. Distribution Thursday will be from 8 am - 12 pm.
Each bag contains 14 meals – enough food to serve breakfast and lunch for 7 days for one child.
Parents and guardians can reserve a meal bag, one per child, by filling out a form at www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCPSWinterBreakMealBag
Polk:
Polk County Schools are not offering food distribution over the holiday break, according to a school spokesman.
