Children can access free meals throughout summer
Paula Sellers, Anderson County Schools’ director of student services, was glad to see the Happy Lunch Box food truck arrive. It will provide food for students in need over vacation periods with routes announced over social media. (photo:Submitted )
ETHRA
Beginning June 4, and continuing through June 26, any child under the age of 18 can receive a complimentary lunch, Monday through Friday, if they show up at one of the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency’s Sunshine Bus stops, which will serve as mobile sites:
• Oak Ridge Civic Center – 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, from 11 until 11:30 a.m.
Oliver Springs Library, 610 Walker Ave., Oliver Springs, from noon until 1 p.m.
• Clinton Splash Pad, 110 S. Charles G. Seivers Blvd., Clinton, from 1:25 until 2 p.m.
• Rocky Top Splash Pad, 310 2nd St., Rocky Top, from 2:30 until 3 p.m.
• Robertsville Middle School Cafe, 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m.
• Blossom Center, 280 Royce Circle in Oak Ridge, Monday through Friday from 10:30 until 11 a.m. Unlike the other Sunshine sites, it will be open through June 27
• Linden Elementary School at 700 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge will also serve as a breakfast and lunch site, but times were not available.
“We’re committed to supporting our students and families year-round,” said Kristina Barnard, Southwest Food Excellence, LLC., general manager in a news release in which Oak Ridge Schools recently announced a partnership with to provide meals for children during the summer months.
The meals will be served from the ETHRA Sunshine Bus.
“This program ensures that children have access to healthy, balanced meals during the summer when school breakfast and lunch programs are not available,” the news release from Oak Ridge Schools stated. It encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of this free resource.
In addition, to these stops, ETHRA also listed several other locations:
• Clinton Boys & Girls Club at 101 S. Hicks St. in Clinton will have meals June 4 through June 26. Breakfast will be 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
• Girls Inc. at 1798 Oak Ridge Turnpike will have meals June 4 through June 26. Breakfast will be Monday through Friday 8 to 9 a.m. and lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Jefferson Middle School at 200 Fairbanks Road in Oak Ridge will have meals from June 4-26. It will have breakfast from 7 to 7:45 a.m. on Monday through Thursday and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday.
• Oak Ridge Boys and Girls Club at 102 South Jefferson Circle will have lunch Monday through Friday from 11 until noon.
• Oak Ridge Schools Preschool at 157 Carver Avenue in Oak Ridge from June 4-26 will have meals Monday through Thursday. They will be 8:30 to 9 a.m. and 11 to 11:30 a.m.
• Robertsville Middle School at 245 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge from June 4-26 will have breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday, lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and open site Monday through Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Willowbrook Elementary School at 298 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge will have breakfast from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch 10:30 until noon Monday through Thursday.
• Woodland Extended Child Care at 168 Manhattan Ave. in Oak Ridge will have meals June 4-26, Monday through Friday, 10:30 to noon and 3 until 4 p.m.
• Andersonville Elementary School at 1951 Mountain Road in Andersonville will have meals from June 4-11 on Thursdays from 2 until 3 and from June 5- 26 from 10 until noon.
• Claxton Elementary School at 2218 Clinton Highway in Powell will have meals May 26 through June 19 from 7:45 until 8:30 and 11 to 11:30 a.m.
• Fairview Elementary at 6715 Hickory Valley Road in Heiskell from Monday through Thursday 7:45 through 8:30 and 11 to 11:30 a.m.
• Grands Oaks Elementary at 1033 Oliver Springs Highway will have breakfast and lunch at the same times as Fairview. It will also have meals from June 6-27, with breakfast and lunch from 10 until noon.
• Lake City Elementary School at 402 Lindsay Ave. in Rocky Top will serve meals from May 26 through June 26. It will be Monday through Friday from 7:45 through 8:30 and 11 to 11:30 a.m. From June 6-27, it will serve breakfast and lunch from 10 a.m. until noon Friday.
• Norwood Elementary School at 809 E. Tri-County Blvd. in Oliver Springs will serve meals from 7:45 until 8:30 and 11 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday from May 26 through June 18.
• Norwood Middle School at 803 E. Tri-County Blvd. in Oliver Springs will have the same hours and days as Norwood Elementary.
• Lake City Middle School at 1132 S. Main St. in Rocky Top will have meals from 10 a.m. until noon on Fridays from June 5-26.
Food Truck
Another program will similarly offer free meals for children in need at different places around the county, but from a different vehicle: Anderson County Schools’ new food truck.
The truck, called the Happy Lunch Box, will help deliver meals during extended school breaks, including fall. spring, summer and Christmas, as well as during unexpected weather-related closures.
“This new resource will help ensure that students who rely on school meals continue to receive consistent, nutritious nourishment even when campuses are closed,” the school system stated in a press release.
A grant from the state of Tennessee for $194,000 helped pay for the truck.
Director of Student Services Paula Sellers told The Courier News that the school system plans to serve the whole district with the truck, but will give highest priority to areas with the highest food insecurity around Norwood, Rocky Top and the Briceville area.
She said Anderson County Schools plans to use it during vacation times or weather days, letting people know through social media where the truck will be.
It had not announced a route as of press time.
Anderson CountyDdirector of Finance Rob Holbrook said the source of the food truck funding was the state grant.
