NORFOLK, Va. – Forcing K-12 schools statewide to close through the end of the academic year, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted students who rely on free or reduced-price meals their schools provide. Already providing meals to children now out of school during the week, Norfolk Public Schools is taking an extra step by expanding its meal distribution program.
Starting Friday, May 1, NPS will now provide meals on weekends. Every Friday, the meal distribution will be increased to include two additional days of food at no charge for each child on Saturdays and Sundays.
Children will get one regular “grab-n-go” bag for Friday containing one breakfast and one lunch as usual, plus one larger bag for the weekend. The larger bag will have two breakfasts and two lunches. It will be a mixture of pre-packaged, ready-to-eat items as well as “heat and eat” items, along with preparation instructions, food safety information and allergy information.
“As the economic impact of this crisis deepens, we want to make sure that Norfolk Public Schools is doing as much as we can to support our families,” said John W. Hazelette, acting deputy superintendent of operations.
Related: Rely on school lunch? How to find food distribution sites while Virginia schools are closed
The 12 food distribution sites will remain the same and will continue to operate on weekdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Those sites are:
- Azalea Gardens Middle School
- Booker T. Washington High School
- Camp Allen Elementary
- Coleman Place Elementary
- James Monroe Elementary
- Lake Taylor School
- Norview Elementary
- Oceanair Elementary
- P.B. Young Elementary
- Southside STEM Academy
- St. Helena Elementary
- Suburban Park Elementary.
Delivery of meals via NPS school buses will also continue on weekdays with the same sites and hours:
· Titustown Recreation Center - 7545 Diven St., 23505 from 11-11:30 a.m.
· Huntersville Community Center - 830 Goff St., 23504 from 12-12:30 p.m.
· Grandy Village Recreation Center - 3017 Kimball Terrace, 23504 from 1-1:30 p.m.
The bags are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination during the course of the meal service.
To get the latest news on operations of Norfolk Public Schools during the extended school closure, please visit the school district's Coronavirus Update webpage.
Due to rapidly changing circumstances, the school sites’ times and dates are subject to change. Updates will be posted on the NPS division webpage and social media channels.
