Hardin County Schools implements safety net lunch program starting March 18

Following Monday’s announcement of the closure of all Hardin County schools to minimize the spread of coronavirus, Director of Schools Michael Davis said the school system will continue to provide meals to students.
“Hardin County Schools will be providing lunch to anyone 18 years old or younger, beginning this Wednesday, at nine locations in the county and two locations within the city,” Davis said.
Lunches will be provided each weekday beginning Wednesday, March 18 through April 3, from 11 a.m.-noon, or until all lunches at each location have been claimed.
“This is obviously a new situation for us, so we don’t know exactly how many will take advantage of this and participate. We’ve done our best to estimate how many lunches will be needed in each community, so we’ll try this and we’ll adjust where needed,” Davis said.
The lunches will be prepared at the high school and delivered to each of the 11 locations, where distribution points will be set up in the parking lots of those points.
Davis noted that children receiving a lunch must be present – they must be in the car – to receive a lunch, due to federal guidelines. Drivers should enter the parking lot and stop, and school personnel will bring a lunch for each child in the car.
After receiving lunches, drivers are asked to go off-site to eat them, to both keep the area clear for others arriving and to minimize the risk of spread of the coronavirus. Davis said the lunches are “grab and go.”
Also, if picking up lunches at a community fire hall, please take care to not stop in front of fire hall bay doors.
School Nutrition Program Supervisor Cheryl Cochran said the lunches will be “cold meals,” such a sandwich, fruit or vegetable and milk, but that all lunches will fit the National School Lunch Pattern as required of schools. She asked that parents note that on some days at some locations, peanut butter sandwiches will be offered. A different option will be available for those with peanut butter allergies upon request.
The locations outside of Savannah for distribution of lunches, each weekday from 11 a.m. to noon, are:
•Whites Community Center
•Walnut Grove Community Center
•Olive Hill Fire Hall
•Pickwick Southside School
•Shiloh – the old Ed Shaw’s Restaurant (intersection of Tenn.142 and Tenn. 22)
•Crump City Hall
•Morris Chapel Fire Hall
•Saltillo Community Center
•Cerro Gordo Community Center
Locations in Savannah for distribution of lunches, each weekday from 11 a.m.-noon (each will be in front of the school entrance), are:
•Northside Elementary
•Parris South Elementary
Anyone with questions should contact the Hardin County Board of Education at 731-925-3943.