Florence, South Carolina – Florence School District 3 has launched a comprehensive effort to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students 18 years of age and under participating in school-based activities, in a major step intended to empower families and ensure no child goes hungry. This new meal service aligns with federal nutrition guidelines to promote healthy eating habits among students.
Beginning in June, the district will also provide bulk meal pickups at multiple district locations to kids who are not registered in school-based programs. Because of limited supply, these meals—which are meant to meet children’s nutritional needs—will be given out free of charge on June 4th, 13th, and 20th on a first-come, first-served basis.
The distribution will be facilitated through both the district’s food service van and school buses, ensuring accessibility across various strategic locations. For van pickups, the schedule is as follows:
- Lake City Housing Authority on Matthews Road from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.
- Durant Street in Lake City from 9:45 to 10:45 AM.
- Wren Village & Morning Glory from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM.
School bus delivery will be available at:
- Airport Circle in Lake City from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.
- Bozy Road in Scranton, SC from 9:45 to 10:45 AM.
- Ray Street in Lake City from 9:45 to 10:45 AM.
- Olanta Elementary Cafeteria Parking from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM.
With a combination of ready-to-eat and heat-and-serve products, each bulk meal package is made to last five to seven days, giving families flexibility to meet their different needs. Significantly, if adults can provide identification of the child, such as the student’s ID number, they can pick up meals on behalf of minors.
Read also: Latina Bazaar Market founder presents: “Spanglish Small Business Expo”
Watch the district’s Facebook page and website for updates, especially in the event of bad weather that could interfere with the meal distribution schedule.
Florence School District 3 continues to be committed to nondiscrimination and equality in compliance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy. The school food service supervisor Valerie Mouzon can be reached at the district’s Food & Nutrition Services office with any questions or issues about the meal service.
This program is a component of the district’s larger effort, as an equal opportunity provider and employer, to guarantee that every child, regardless of their situation, has access to healthy food.
