Ohio and Kentucky school systems are working to ensure that students who depend on them for breakfast and lunch won’t go hungry because classes are canceled due to COVID-19.
“Whether or not we’re reimbursed, we’re going to feed our kids,” said Henry Webb, Kenton County School District superintendent.
On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear recommended all Kentucky schools close for at least two weeks to limit the spread of COVID-19.
In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Friday that the United States Department of Agriculture had approved waivers allowing all schools in the state to provide grab-and-go lunches during their mandatory three-week break that began on Monday.
Below is a list of what local school districts are offering students in terms of nutrition on both sides of the Ohio River in the coming weeks.
IN KENTUCKY
BEECHWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: Breakfast and lunch will be served to all students at Fort Mitchell Park and outside the lower level elementary school entrance each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information visit www.beechwood.kyschools.us.
BELLEVUE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: In addition to the Grab & Go pickup options at each Bellevue school buildings, the district also is offering two pickup locations in Southgate to further serve students. Those locations include the Canterbury House Apartments Clubhouse at 227 Moock Rd. and Southgate Fire Department at 128 Electric Ave. in Southgate. Breakfast will be served starting at 8:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:45 a.m. from the clubhouse. The fire departmetn will serve breakfast starting at 8:45 a.m. and lunch at noon each day. For more information visit www.bellevue.kyschools.us.
BOONE COUNTY SCHOOLS:
UPDATE: 3/20/20
Families will no longer be able to pick up food at their schools. Boone County Schools are now asking that families call ahead and request how many meals are needed for the number of students in their family. Buses will be delivering food to certain locations at specific times. Details based on districts are listed through the links below:
https://tinyurl.com/Dist1FoodUpdate
https://tinyurl.com/Dist2FoodUpdate
https://tinyurl.com/Dist3FoodUpdate
https://tinyurl.com/FoodCollinsUpdate
Phone numbers to call and reserve a meal are also available via the links.
School cafeteria phone numbers may be found under FAQ’s on the district’s website www.boone.k12.ky.us.
CAMPBELL COUNTY SCHOOLS: Campbell County Schools is serving grab-and-go breakfasts from buses parked in front of each school in the district. For the latest information visit the district's Facebook page.
COVINGTON INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS: For any child under the age of 19, meals will b available to pickup from 11:30 a.m.-noon on days that schools are closed. Meals can be picked up at all Covington Independent Publich elementary schools, the Latonia Terrace parking lot, City Heights parking lot, Nineth Street Baptist Church located at 231 E. Ninth St., Southside Baptist Church located at 1501 Holman St., Southside Baptist Church at 1501 Holman St. and St. John's Congregational Church at 1235 Highway Ave. For additional information call 859-392-1028 or 859-655-5299 or visit www.covington.kyschools.us.
GALLATIN COUNTY SCHOOLS: Food deliveries for students will begin on Monday, March 16. Students will receive a lunch for that day plus a breakfast for the following day. Pick up times at the upper/middle school cafeteria is from 11 a.m.-noon. The cafeteria also will be open from 8-8:30 a.m. each day for an additional breakfast pick up. There is also a list of mobile pickup sites on the school district website. If you can not reach these locations call the Central Office at 859-567-1820. For more information visit www.gallatin.k12.ky.us.
GRANT COUNTY SCHOOLS: Meals will be available for pick up at various locations throughout Grant County. At some locations, the delivery vehicle will park for a period of time. In other locations, the delivery vehicle will drive through the area. If the delivery vehicle is driving through your area, you do not have to walk to a central location, but it is very important that you be out and watching for the bus/van. For pick up and delivery locations and times visit www.grant.kyschools.us.
KENTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Students can get “grab-and-go” breakfast from 8-8:45 p.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day from March 16-27. Meals are available for pick up at all school buildings as well as three community locations: Heartland Community, Cambridge Apartments and Taylor Ridge Apartments. For more information visit www.kenton.kyschools.us.
LUDLOW INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: Grab & Go lunches will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. each day while school is out. Lunches will be handed out on Oak Street in front fo the school district cafeteria. For more information visit www.ludlow.kyschools.us
NEWPORT INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: Students can get “grab-and-go” meals 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. every week day at the front door of Newport Primary, the Putnam Street entrance to the cafeteria of Newport Intermediate and the courtyard door of Newport High School. Any household that currently receives Power Packs can still get them. Primary school parents and guardians should call Molly at 859-431-6662 for grab-and-go orders. Intermediate parents and guardians should call Amber at 859-431-3007. For more information visit www.newportwildcats.org.
OWEN COUNTY SCHOOLS: Student lunches will be delivered to various locations via school buses beginning Monday, March 16. For the latest information visit the Owen County School Facebook page.
OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
FAIRFIELD CITY SCHOOLS: Beginning Monday, Fairfield's food service department will be serving meals at all of its buildings (except the Academy). School-age students may visit any building to receive a lunch from 11:00 a.m-1 p.m. Monday- Friday. The lunch will be grab-and-go style. Students will also receive a breakfast that can be utilized the following day. Students who currently receive a free or reduced lunch will continue to receive that benefit. Students who are not eligible for a free or reduced lunch will be able to purchase a lunch at the regular school lunch price. Lunch service will not be provided during scheduled spring break from March 30-April 3. For more information visit www.fairfieldcityschools.com.
HAMILTON CITY SCHOOLS: Beginning March 18 through April 10, Hamilton City Schools will be providing a lunch meal as well as breakfast for the next morning in a “to go” bag. These meals will be provided Monday through Friday and will be available from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at bus stops throughout the district. Click here for the full parent letter with a list of bus stop locations.
LAKOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT: Following Spring break, Lakota's child nutrition department will implement a schedule similar to its summer lunch program during the shutdown to provide breakfast and lunch for students on a free/reduced lunch. The district is working on a plan to expand this program to include both more drop-off locations as well as an optional pickup location. More specific information will be shared with families this week. The district anticipates beginning the program with lunch on Monday, March 23. For more information visit www.lakotaonline.com.
MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOLS: Students can pick up food from multiple locations throughout the district. Serving times will be from 10-11 a.m. Monday-Friday through April 3. In addition to the mobile bus stop drop offs, food will be available at every school building with the exception of Midd State. Bagged food will be handed out at the front doors of each school. For more information visit www.middletowncityschools.com.
NEW MIAMI LOCAL SCHOOLS: Breakfast will be served take-out style from 8-9 a.m. Monday- Friday. Lunch will be served take-out style from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday- Friday. For more information visit www.new-miami.k12.oh.us.
WEST CLERMONT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: The district will provide breakfast and lunch at no charge to any child 18 years of age or younger beginning Tuesday, March 17. West Clermont will distribute meals at up to three sites within its district. More information regarding these sites and the logistics of distribution will be provided in an update on Monday, March 16. For the latest information visit www.westcler.k12.oh.us.
HAMILTON COUNTY
CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Cincinnati Public Schools' Student Dining Services will be distributing meals from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. March 17 – April 3, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week, with an additional serving day of Tuesday, March 17. On Mondays and Wednesdays, children will receive two breakfast meals and two lunch meals. On Fridays and Tuesday, March 17, children will receive one breakfast meal and one lunch meal. All meals be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information visit www.cps-k12.org.
DEER PARK COMMUNITY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Lunch and breakfast packs will be distributed each day from the back cafeteria entrance of Amity Elementary 10:30 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday. Packs will contain lunch for that day and breakfast for the following day. All students can pick up packs, whether elementary or jr./sr. high school level, however, all packs will be distributed from Amity. Students who are free/reduced lunch eligible will be provided lunches based on their eligibility. Students who are not free/reduced lunch will still be able to pick up a pack for a fee. For more information visit www.deerparkcityschools.org.
FINNEYTOWN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: All food will be prepared and available at the cafeteria at the Secondary Campus (high school). The cafeteria will be open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Any person under 19-years-old can get meals for free and do not need to be a student or resident of Finneytown. For more information visit finneytown.org.
FOREST HILLS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: The district will provide box lunch options for families that would like to take advantage of this service for their children. Lunches will be available for drive-by pick up at Anderson High School outside the athletic lobby and Turpin High School at the flag pole between the hours of 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. Lunches will need to be ordered 24 hours in advance. For more information visit www.foresthills.edu.
LOCKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Students will receive five days of breakfast and lunch at the end of the school day on Monday, March 16 for the remainder of the week. For more information visit www.locklandschools.org.
MARIEMONT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: The Mariemont City School District counseling staff is reaching out to families and students who they believe may need assistance during the school closure and are making arrangements to provide meals. However, if you or someone you knows needs assistance with food, contact the district’s Director of Student Services, Tricia Buchert.
NORTH COLLEGE HILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Free breakfast and lunch “grab and go” bags will be available for all students beginning Monday, March 16 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the MS/HS cafeteria. Students should follow the signs on the cafeteria doors and leave the school campus immediately after picking up the meals. For more information visit www.nchcityschools.org.
NORTHWEST LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: NWLSD plans to distribute food to parents on Wednesday, March 18th, throughout the morning. The district will provide breakfast and lunch kits for 10 days for any NWLSD student in need. Information on neighborhood pick up locations will be available by Tuesday, March 17. For more information visit www.nwlsd.org.
NORWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: The school district will provide lunch for pick up beginning Tuesday, March 17 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at each of its schools. Please check the district's Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
PRINCETON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Food will be distributed at multiple locations within the school district. For a list of times and locations visit www.princetonschools.net
READING COMMUNITY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Carryout meals will be available in the cafeteria between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, March 16. Breakfast/lunch meal pickups will begin as scheduled on Tuesday, March 17. For more information visit www.readingschools.org.
SOUTHWEST LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Local churches and food pantries have partnered with the Southwest Local School District to ensure that no child goes hungry during the extended school closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Power Packs will be available for pickup at each SLSD elementary school, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at Harrison Junior School Monday-Friday. Call the respective school before coming, as this schedule could be affected by the deep cleaning work taking place in each building during the shutdown. The Food Pantry at Harrison Junior School also is available at 2:30-3:30 p.m. Thursdays. For more information visit www.southwestschools.org
SYCAMORE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Sycamore Child Nutrition Services (CNS) will provide daily weekday meals for students beginning March 23. For more information visit www.sycamoreschools.org.
THREE RIVERS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: In response to the Governor's mandated school closure to slow the spread of COVID-19, Three Rivers has a group of local organizations and volunteers working diligently to continue nutrition services for our students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. For a list of meal delivery schedules and locations within the school district visit www.threeriversschools.org.
HABANERO LATIN AMERICAN FARE
358 Ludlow Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45220
Parents can DM them on Facebook to make an arrangement.
RED ROSE JEMS PIZZERIA
5915 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45224
Kids on free and reduced lunch can get a giant slice of pizza, fruit and lemonade from Tuesday to Friday between 4-6 p.m.
POSEIDON’S PIZZA COMPANY
8640 Haines Dr., Suite G, Florence, KY 41042
K-12 students can get a free small cheese pizza any weekday between 3-6 p.m.
Management asks that only families truly in need take advantage of this opportunity.
OTHER LISTS:
How some local schools are dealing with COVID-19
Local events that are canceled or postponed due to COVID-19
