Across Northern Virginia, students will be able to receive free meals although their schools suspended formal education due to a growing health emergency in the region.
As the rapidly spreading Covid-19 forces many nations to halt almost all but essential forms of social life around the world, many jurisdictions in the U.S. have introduced strict measures as well. In Northern Virginia, those included closure of all public schools through March 27th. Several school divisions will remain non-operational for two more weeks, till April 14th.
That, however, won’t stop authorities provide students as well as younger children from low-income families with the nutrients they need during this extraordinary closure period.
Here are food pick-up guidelines in the region’s several jurisdictions:
ARLINGTON KIDS FREE MEALS
From March 16th, Arlington Public Schools will provide free grab-and-go meals at two school sites – Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Road) and Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School (3500 S. 23rd Street).
The meals, one breakfast and one lunch, will be waiting on tables outside those two buildings between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each weekday. They will be free to any child between the ages of two and 18. The children, however, must be present at the time of the pick-up. No parent without them will be able to collect the food aid packages.
ALEXANDRIA KIDS FREE MEALS
In Alexandria, the public schools body ACPS will, too, be providing emergency meals at no cost for any child under 18 and any family who needs it. Students over the age of 18 may participate if they have a disability and/or are still enrolled in high school as well.
Regardless of their status and age, what they should do is stop by the Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School. There, they can pick up a meal-to-go, a breakfast between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and a lunch between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Families, on the other hand, can order a meal pack online to collect it at the drive-through outside the same address. They can also request a free meal delivery.
FAIRFAX KIDS FREE MEALS
Fairfax County Public Schools will continue its food distribution at 18 locations during the closure. From Monday through Friday, breakfast will be available between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For lunch, visits should be arranged from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. No charges apply for students. Adult lunches will be $2 a meal.
FALLS CHURCH KIDS FREE MEALS
In Falls Church, authorities will see all families who qualify for the City’s food aid distribution continue to receive the necessary nutrients for their children. Its program will supply two-week supply of non-perishable foods. There will also be additional support and delivery-to-door for families with fewer resources. The location is Thomas Jefferson Elementary at 601 South Oak Street.
LOUDOUN KIDS FREE MEALS
Loudoun County’s School Nutrition Services is expanding and extending meal support in school communities from March 16th to March 20th and March 23rd to March 27th at schools and many other locations. Students can choose the location they prefer to collect a breakfast and a lunch for free between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
PRINCE WILLIAM KIDS FREE MEALS
Finally in Prince William County, to-go meals will be available to all children under the age of 18 for free, too. At multiple locations listed on its website, the PWC Public Schools will distribute breakfast and lunch packages at the same time between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. from Monday through Friday.