Douglas County Schools Provide Meals During Coronavirus Closure

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — As school closures extend to late April across Georgia because of the new coronavirus, the Douglas County School System has kept kitchens going for the area's children. Every Wednesday, the district has distributed meals packs for kids and said they'll continue until classes resume.

According to the school district, during their second distribution event on March 25, they served 4.723 children alone.

Any child, regardless of school or place of residence, can pick up a pack filled with five breakfasts and five lunches between 9 a.m and 11 a.m. at these locations:

• Alexander High School
• Chapel Hill High School
• Douglas County High School
• Lithia Springs High School
• New Manchester High School
• Eastside Elementary School
• Fairplay Middle School
• North Douglas Elementary
• School Stewart Middle School
• Turner Middle School
• Winston Elementary School

Bagged meals are delivered directly to cars lined up at the front entrance of the school and each child receiving a pack must be present. However, New Manchester High School will have cars "drive-thru" by the back cafe entrance. There will not be a distribution on April 8 during spring break.

“The Douglas County School Nutrition Department is always looking for additional ways to feed and support children throughout the school year,” Douglas County Director of School Nutrition Danielle Freeman said. “It is our role and our responsibility to be there for the students in our community.”

Even though supplies are limited at each location Douglas County Schools said they would increase service based on community need, especially if school closures are extended.

Thursday morning, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp extended the closure of all public schools to April 24. It was originally set to end March 31, but now students will be returning April 27, unless further closures are announced.

As of Thursday at noon, there are 1525 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, with 473 people hospitalized and 48 dead. Douglas County has 18 of those cases.