Hundreds Of Hillsborough School Children Receiving Free Meals

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County Public Schools is feeding students during this extended time off with free breakfast and lunch offered at several sites across the district.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education directed all schools in the state to close until April 15.

In the Hillsborough County School District, 63 percent of students – about 123,000 children – qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

Starting Monday, the district established Grab-and-Go feeding sites to ensure that students have accessibility to nutritious meals.

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The Student Nutrition Services Department has identified the following locations to provide meals – breakfast and lunch – at no cost to children 18 years and under.

Hundreds of families across the county picked up free breakfast and lunch meals at the 23 school sites Monday and Tuesday.

"I think this is a wonderful thing you guys are doing for the community,” said parent Christopher Heffner.

Superintendent Addison Davis visited several locations to help hand out meals to our families.

"They're doing a great job, giving these kids the meals they need to be successful," said Addison.

He said the school district is in the process of identifying 100 more sites in apartment complexes and housing communities with a large percentage of students on the free lunch program. In addition to giving out breakfast and lunch, the district will give out computer pads with free Internet provided by Spectrum so children can learn remotely while the schools are closed.

Current sites are located at:

• Alonso High School
• Jefferson High School
• Reddick Elementary School
• Armwood High School
• King High School
• Rodgers Middle School
• Blake High School
• Lennard High School
• Sligh Middle School
• Brandon High School
• Leto High School
• Smith Middle School
• Chamberlain High School
• Madison Middle School
• Spoto High School
• Durant High School
• Middleton High School
• Strawberry Crest High School
• East Bay High School
• Mort Elementary School
• Wharton High School
• Hillsborough High School
• Plant City High School

Each location is serving food to those 18 years old and under from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Federal guidelines require students are present to receive food. Students are only allowed to receive food one time each day, however, they can pick up both breakfast and lunch at that one time.

Students will receive food items like boxed raisins, fresh fruit, pretzels and cheese, milk, cereal bars and other non-perishable items.

"Everybody can't afford to panic buy," said Student Nutrition Services Manager Brenda Rau. "Everyone does not have two or three hundred dollars to stock up on items."

Rau and her team says they are pulling together because they know how important this service is to the community during such uncertainty.

While the school district encourages parents and caregivers to drive to the locations, walk-ups will be accepted. The food will be distributed directly from school buses which will be set up in the designated car line at the schools listed above.

For a list of feeding sites and more information, click here.

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