Everyone’s lives have shifted over the past few weeks. For many children, school is an essential place to receive meals on a daily basis, but most schools are closed due to the novel coronavirus, Covid-19.
When the governor asked all schools to close, he committed that each district would find a way to feed the students even while they were out.
Here's how several counties are offering meals to children 18 and under, regardless of if they are enrolled in a particular school or county. This isn't an exhaustive list. Please check with your local school for further details.
Knox County Schools
Knox County Schools will be providing breakfast and lunch to students on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at distribution sites. Students will receive two day’s worth of meals on Monday and Wednesdays. More information and pick-up sites are available through Knox County Schools.
For the remainder of school being out, KCS says multiple days worth of meals will be passed out to students.
Sevier County Schools
School buses are delivering breakfast and lunch grab-and-go to students at their bus stops at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each delivery will have meals for two days, and Friday deliveries will include meals for the weekend. More information on bus stop locations is available from Sevier County Schools.
Alcoa City Schools
While schools are closed, Alcoa Schools will provide breakfast and lunch to all students 18 and under. Students can pick up meals on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. from select schools. On Monday, students will receive two day’s worth of meals, and on Wednesday they will receive three day’s worth of meals. Students must be present to receive meals. More information can be found from Alcoa City Schools.
Oak Ridge Schools
The district will be distributing breakfast and lunch at four schools on weekdays. You can find instructions and times here.
Campbell County Schools
On March 30, Campbell County Schools will be distributing breakfast and lunch meals for Monday and Tuesday to students. Their current hope is to be back in school on April 1. More information can be found through Campbell County Schools.
Loudon County Schools
For students in Loudon County, buses will be dropping off breakfast and lunch daily at various times, depending on the bus stop. There are 26 different drop off locations, and several churches will also be distributing meals to children on the weekends. More information about where drop-off sites are located and the times for meals are available through Loudon County.
Jefferson County Schools
Starting March 24, Jefferson County Schools will be providing breakfast and lunch to students on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Three days of meals will be given on Tuesdays, and two days of meals will be given on Fridays. For details about drive-thru pick-up locations, visit Jefferson County Schools.
Hancock County Schools
Students in Hancock County will also be fed during school closures. In this county, students must enroll in a student nutrition program in order to receive meals, but students do not need to be enrolled in Hancock Country Schools in order to be in the nutrition program. More information on how to enroll can be found through Hancock County Schools.
Roane County Schools
Students in Roane County will receive one breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at designated pick-up sites. Students do not need to be enrolled in Roane Country School in order to receive meals. Information on pick-up sites can be found through Roane County Schools.
Scott County Schools
Breakfast and lunch will be served at each of the five elementary schools. Parents/Students must drive up to the school’s bus pick-up/drop-off lane and meals will be provided to children that are present.
Monday 3/23 - Food Pickup from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Each child will receive 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches.
Oneida Special School District
Food distribution at Oneida Middle School from 10 a.m. through noon. All children up to 18 are eligible and must be present. Students will receive enough meals for breakfast and lunch for a week.
Morgan County Schools
Starting Tuesday, breakfast will be served between 9 a.m.and 10 a.m. at six Morgan County schools as grab n' go meals. Lunch will also be served between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Additional Meal Locations
There are also several restaurants and local businesses offering meals to students, but that access may become limited as safer at home and shelter in place orders are enacted across several Tennessee counties.
Wings Over Knoxville- (1834 Cumberland Ave) Wings Over Knoxville will provide a free meal, any day of the week, for K-12 students while they are out of school.
Hilton Knoxville- (501 W. Church Ave) Hilton Knoxville is providing sack lunches for students between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. daily. Pick-up is available at the Starbucks entrance of the hotel, across from Lawson-McGhee Library.
Change Center- (203 Harriet Tubman St) The Change Center will be providing grab-and-go box dinners on Wednesday, March 25 and Friday, March 27 between 4 and 6 p.m.