TEXARKANA, Texas - Starting Sept. 18, the Texarkana Independent School District will offer free meals to virtual students every week through Texas Department of Agriculture funding.
On Sept. 14, TISD began serving all on-campus students free breakfast and lunch at every campus.
But Friday, they will start holding food drop-offs at various locations for at-home learners to come by and grab five days worth of labeled meal components, including things like loaves of bread, gallons of milk, bags of fruit, vegetables and protein sources.
TISD Chief Communications Officer Tina Veal-Gooch said the Department of Agriculture has extended resources for school districts to operate summer feeding programs through Dec. 31 or until federal funds run out.
TISD has opted to change from operating the National School Lunch Program to the Summer Feeding Program so they can offer free meals to students - on-campus and remote.
Virtual learners and children in the community under the age of 19 will be able to receive meals at the drop-offs.
Children in local communities who are not enrolled in school can still receive meals for free.
Children must be present to receive meals, unless they are enrolled in the district and parents can show proof of enrollment - such as a student ID or report card - at the time the parent picks up meals.
"Breakfast and lunch are key to student health and well-being, whether the student is on-campus or learning remotely from home," Veal-Gooch said. "We are taking every measure we can to give to our students, and their families, the opportunity to provide essential meals and/or items to make the meals at home."
The drop-off times and locations are as follows:
Mondays
Oakwood Mobile Homes, 700 E New Boston Road, 10:30 - 11 a.m.
Deerfield Village, 6500 W. New Boston Road, 11:30 a.m. - noon
Pine Ridge Estates, 1041 N. Kings Highway, 12:30 - 1 p.m.
Tuesdays
College Creek Apartments, 2631 N. Robison Road, No. 101, 10:30 - 11 a.m.
College Park Apartments. 3201 N. Robison Road, NO. 111, 11:30 a.m. - noon
Wednesdays
Creekside North Apartments, 2605 Kennedy Lane, 10:30 - 11 a.m.
Creekside South Apartments, 3333 Nichols Drive, 11:30 a.m. - noon
Thursdays
Rosehill Ridge Apartments, 1101 Stuckey, 10:30 - 11 a.m.
Wake Ridge Apartments, 924 Westlawn Drive, 11:30 a.m. - noon
Woodbridge Apartments, 502 Belt Road, 12:30 - 1 p.m.
Fridays
Town North Apartments, 4624 Elizabeth St., 10:30 - 11 a.m.
Pecan Ridge at Rosehill Apartments, 2210 W. 15th Street, 11:30 a.m. - noon
The Oaks at Rosehill Apartments, 2100 W. 12th Street, 12:30 - 1 p.m.