Meals that Matter: Nutrition Efforts Continue Countywide

With schools closed for students through 5/15, meal service continues to be a vital part of BCS’ response efforts.

By: Benjamin Rickert, BCS Communications

Despite the pouring rain on Monday morning, Haw Creek Elementary and A.C. Reynolds Middle nutrition staff kicked off Buncombe County Schools’ newest curbside meal distribution site for area students in the Haw Creek neighborhood. In the midst of last week’s turbulent COVID-19 (coronavirus) developments, nutrition and other BCS staff led the charge in distributing more than 50,000 meals to children ages 2-18. With the governor’s March 23 order to close schools for student instruction through at least May 15, meal service continues to be a vital part of BCS’ response efforts.

“It’s a 100 percent chance of rain and we’re still going to be out here,” Haw Creek school nutrition manager Lisa Ballew said on Monday. “For lunch, we’re serving Buncombe burgers, tater tots, baked beans, and fruit.”

Designated Buncombe County schools continue to serve meals Monday through Friday, with breakfasts served from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and lunches served from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. During Friday lunch times, these sites will also send home boxed weekend meals for students. Additionally, 'yellow bus' meal sites are delivering meals to certain areas. Up-to-date meal location and times are accessible at Response.BuncombeSchools.org.

Western North Carolina families can find nearby student meal sites through an interactive map provided by No Kid Hungry North Carolina, or by texting ‘FOODNC’ to 877-877.

“Our first day went extremely well and our cafeteria staff was well prepared,” said school principal Jay Dale. “We know this is the right thing to do and we want to make it work for our kids and their families.

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