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Hardin County Schools announces sign-ups for new free meal delivery program

Hardin County Schools has been working through the COVID-19 crisis to ensure area children continue to be fed, and just announced another win in the fight against child hunger.
Through the Emergency Meals to You program, and so long as you have at least one child enrolled in a Hardin County School, you can receive free meals through June 30 for all children, 1-18 years of age, in your home.
Enrollment is open today, and the deadline for enrollment is May 11.
Under the program, each student enrolled will begin receiving a two-week supply of shelf-stable, nutritious, individually packaged foods, every two weeks and at no cost to the student or the student’s family. The meals will be delivered to the door of the home where the student resides, through June 30.
Each box will contain 10 breakfast meals and 10 lunches-suppers.
Supervisor of School Nutrition Cheryl Cochran applied for and secured HCS’ place in the Emergency Meals to You program, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, PepsiCo and others.
“I – we, everyone here at Hardin County Schools – are just about making sure no child goes without. My mission is to feed children, and I’m so happy we were approved for this program, because it’s about helping kids,” Cochran said.
All you have to do is fill out an online sign-up form and submit it as soon as possible, Cochran said. Access the online form at https://bit.ly/2VS1T61.
On the website, Cochran said there is a box that asks for a student number. If you know your child’s lunch number, use that. If you do not, just put in a “1,” she said.
“It’s a required box, but the number itself is not really important – it’s really just for helping us verify students. But we’ll be verifying by name, so it’s not important what number you use,” Cochran said.
She also said if, during the process, you are asked whether you are enrolling in the “Emergency Meal Program” or “Summer Meal Program,” choose the Emergency Meal Program. She said she is looking into the Summer Meal Program, to see if Hardin County children may be eligible for that as well, but at the moment she does not know if it will apply here.
If you have questions or would like more information or assistance enrolling, contact your child’s school or the Hardin County Schools Central Office at 731-925-3943.
Cochran also asked that if you know anyone who may benefit from the program who does not have internet access, to ask them to call the central office or their child’s school.
Cochran also noted the HCS meal program, with meals supplied by the school system at 11 sites throughout Hardin County, will continue through May 22.
“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve students and their families who may struggle to access everyday meals,” said Denton McLane, chairman of McLane Global.
“Through the help of our partners, we’re able to ensure children in rural areas are receiving proper nutrition during this challenging time.”

1 Comment

  1. Fay Mcbunch on May 4, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    I have a grand daughter that is 14 she will be 14 May the 15 th.could I sign her up for the food pkg.she lives in Nashville.and is here with me for the summer?I have 3 grand kids here that is already signed up.Katlynn Franklin is the only one that’s not.we live at 194 Tackett lane Savannah,TN
    We have Aubree kiddy &Kaitlyn Kiddy & Braydon Kiddy signed up.

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