Carter County Schools are providing free meals to children ages 18 and under Monday-Friday during the COVID-19 school closure.

On March 18, Carter County Schools officially closed for an extended period of time due to increased concerns over the coronavirus. Now, to keep children in the community fed, children can receive breakfast and lunch at one of five pickup stands during weekdays from 12-1 p.m. Breakfast is the new addition to the meals, being added March 23. There will be 10 additional sites included, also beginning on March 23. These sites will be open from 12-12:30 p.m. on those same days as well.

These five pickup stands are located at Cloudland Elementary, Hampton High School, Happy Valley Elementary, Hunter Elementary and Little Milligan Elementary. The additional sites will be held at the following addresses: Simerly Creek Believer’s Fellowship Church, 806 Simerly Creek Road, Hampton; Swimming Pool Road Community, 167 Swimming Pool Road, Hampton; Keenburg Elementary, 139 Keenburg Road, Elizabethton; Charity Hill Freewill Baptist Church, 1353 Charity Hill Road, Elizabethton; Meadowbrook Mobile Home Village, 123 Reeser Road, Johnson City; Elk Mills Volunteer Fire Department, 107 Poga Road, Butler; Burbank Freewill Baptist Church, 122 Burbank Road, Roan Mountain; Watauga City Hall, 103 W. 4th Ave., Watauga; Buladean Grocery, 2473 Hwy. 91, Elizabethton; and Butler Trading Post, 16308 Hwy. 67, Butler.

According to Lindsey Feathers, who is over the Food Service Department for Carter County Schools, the free meals have had a positive impact on children in the area so far.

“Everyone has been just happy and very thankful and appreciative,” she said. “It’s been a blessing.”

Despite the circumstances, Feathers said that this weekday event has been beneficial to the community.

“It has been bringing the community together,” she said. “Our volunteers, school nutrition staff and school staff are all working together to make sure a child has the opportunity to receive a meal. We don’t know how long this will last, but we hope to lessen the burden for some families.”

Children under the age of 18 are ensured meals through this system, with the only rule being that they are present when guardians go to pick it up. Feathers said that children of all ages have already been given meals over the last few days. Likewise, the numbers increased since the first day with 459 lunches served, followed by 602 the next day. These numbers are expected to continue increasing.

Food is prepared by nutrition staff at the school with approved lunches. Feathers also said that they are well stocked, and hope to continue this as long as schools are closed.

For more information, you can go to http://www.carterk12.net/.