Groups providing children food while schools closed

Published 3:05 pm Monday, March 16, 2020

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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County Schools will have a to-go lunch pick up option for students for the days they would have been in school.

Schools are closed until April 5.

Child Nutrition Director Tasha Hayes and CCS Superintendent Jason Griffin said that meals will be available 11 a.m. to noon on March 17-20 and March 30-April 3.

Meals will not be available during the school system’s scheduled spring break.

A grab-and-go lunch and snack will be available at the following schools: Verbena High, Clanton Intermediate, Jemison High, Isabella High, Thorsby High and Maplesville High.

Signs will direct drivers where to go. Hayes said there will be no need to leave the vehicle, but the child “must be present in order to receive a meal,” according to federal guidelines.

The lunches will include a protein, grain, fruit, vegetable and dairy.

Cafeteria staff are preparing the food.

The YMCA of Chilton County is also providing grab-and-go lunches for students each weekday until April 3. This will include the original dates for spring break.

“We are serving 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” CEO Lori Patterson said.

Patterson said drivers can come to the front door and pick up the meals for students.

Each lunch will include a meat, whole grain, vegetable, fruit, milk and water.

Meals are free, but donations will be accepted from anyone wanting to contribute. Each lunch will be prepared in the Y’s commercial grade kitchen, which was upgraded for the facility’s Lunch Box Rocks program.

Lunch Box Rocks will be serving lunch each Saturday at the E. M. Henry Community Center in West End at 11:30 a.m.

The Y has also made some adjustments to programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In an effort to protect health and wellness in our community, beginning 3-16-20, we will suspend our childcare services and arthritis classes for seniors until further notice,” according to the organization’s Facebook. “We will also postpone all youth programming (gymnastics, baton, cheer and TKD) for two weeks. AYSO soccer practice is postponed until further notice.”

Chubbfathers Clanton has also been collecting donations to provide food for students in need. Those needing a meal can contact them by sending a private message on the Chubbfathers Clanton Facebook Page.