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These metro Detroit school districts are providing free meals to students amid coronavirus concerns

Arkansas business pays off student lunch debt
Posted at 8:34 AM, Mar 15, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-18 14:45:51-04

HARPER WOODS, MICH (WXYZ) — Several metro Detroit school districts are making sure students have regular meals as counties deal with the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The move to provide breakfast and lunch meals to students comes after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a State of Emergency for Michigan, with 33 cases of the virus now confirmed in the state.

Kindergarten through 12 grade schools throughout Michigan have been mandated closed through April 5.

RELATED: Coronavirus Pandemic: Everything you need to know

Detroit Public Schools Community District first announced it will be providing meals to students Monday through Friday at select school buildings. Students will be able to drive-thru and pick up food.

The City of Harper Woods School District will also provide free breakfast and lunch pick up weekdays only beginning Wednesday, March 18 through April 3.

The program will be available from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Beacon Elementary school, 19475 Beaconsfield Harper Woods MI 48225
  • Tyrone Elementary school, 19525 Tyrone Harper Woods, MI 48225
  • Harper Woods Middle School, 19800 Anita Harper Woods, MI 48225
  • Harper Woods High School, 20225 Beaconsfield St, Harper Woods, MI 48225
  • Please check the City of Harper Woods School District Website at https://www.hwschools.org/ for additional information.

The Oak Park School Disrtict announced its "Feed Our Kids Program" Sunday, March 15. The program will provide curbside pick up at schools and pick up at school bus stops in the district. The Oak Park program is also not limited to only Oak Park students, but any child 18 and under is welcome to grab a meal. Parents can also grab a meal without a child present.

RELATED: Metro Detroit food bank steps up to help families that rely on school lunches

Here are the times of operation:

Curbside pick up at schools are from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., weekdays from Tuesday March 17 through Friday, April 3. Those locations are Oak Park Preparatory Academy, Oak Park Freshman Institute and Oak Park High School. Pick up at school bus stops are from 11 a.m. to noon, weekdays from Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, April 3. Those bus stop locations include Greenfield and 7 Mile, Greenfield and 6 Mile, Greenfield and Fenkell, Greenfield and Schoolcraft, Greenfield and Joy Road, and Joy Road and Southfield.

Utica Community Schools is offering Meet Up and Eat Up with free healthy meals for all children up to age 18. The meals will be available at 14 drive and walk up locations. All children will be able to receive meals regardless of where they attend school or whether they qualify for free or reduced meals, a press release states.

"On Mondays and Wednesdays, patrons will be provided with two days’ worth of meals," Utica Public Schools said in a press release. "On Fridays, patrons will be provided with three days’ worth of meals. Children do not have to be present for parents to request meals."

Additionally, people up to age 26, who are enrolled in an educational program for the mentally or physically disabled that is recognized by a state or local public educational agency, they can also have free meals offered by Utica schools.

Meals to go available at the main entrance of these public schools from noon – 1:00 p.m.:

Burr Elementary, 41460 Ryan, Sterling Heights
Dresden Elementary, 11400 Delvin, Sterling Heights
Harvey Elementary, 41700 Montroy, Sterling Heights
Plumbrook Elementary, 39660 Spalding, Sterling Heights
Roberts Elementary, 2400 Belle View, Shelby Township
Schwarzkoff Elementary, 8401 Constitution, Sterling Heights
West Utica Elementary, 5415 West Utica Rd., Shelby Township
Wiley Elementary, 47240 Shelby Rd., Shelby Township

Meals to-go available at the rear of the building at these public schools from noon – 1:00 p.m. except Stevenson High School which begins at 11:00 a.m.:

Jeannette Junior High, 40400 Gulliver, Sterling Heights
Eisenhower High School, 6500 25 Mile Road, Shelby Township
Stevenson High School, 39701 Dodge Park, Sterling Heights distribution begins at 11:00 a.m.

Meals to go delivered by UCS Food Truck to these locations at these listed times:

Rudgate Manor Club House, 5150 Rudgate Circle, Sterling Heights
Outside of clubhouse from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sterling Estates, 43475 La Grand Blvd, Sterling Heights
Outside the clubhouse in picnic area from noon – 12:30 p.m.

Autumn Woods, 44401 Bridal Lane, Sterling Heights
Near the main office from 12:40 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.

In Taylor, kids and teens 18 and under will be given free breakfast and lunch at various pick-up locations across the city.

Those locations include:

Eureka Heights Elementary School
Hoover Middle School
Moody Elementary School
Randall Elementary School
Holland Elementary School
McDowell Elementary School
Myers Elementary School
Taylor Parks Elementary School and West Middle School.

Meals will be available Tuesday, March 17 and Friday, March 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Bloomfield Hills School District will begin food distribution Tuesday, March 17.

Food will be given out at the following locations and times:

  • Main entrance of Bloomfield Hills High School between 10 a.m. and noon
  • Main entrance of East Hills Middle School between 10 a.m. and noon

Meals will be packaged in grab-and-go containers to maintain a small number of individuals in the buidling at the same time.

Children under 18 do not have to be enrolled in Bloomfield Hills schools. The district will distribute two meals and families can take up to two days of meals at a time.

Adult meals will be offered at $4 per meal.