EDUCATION

Here's where Collier County children can get meals while coronavirus school closures continue

Rachel Fradette
Naples Daily News

Editor's note: Collier County public schools will be closed until April 15. This story was updated April 2, 2020, with more information about the USDA's waiver related to a feeding program.

Children who rely on breakfast and lunch supplied by the Collier County School District will have access to meals this week despite school closures due to the coronavirus emergency.

Free "grab and go" meals will be provided to children 18 years old and younger, according to a district statement. As a result of closed school buildings, students will not be able to eat on campus, according to the district.

The 27 school locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each weekday while the closures persist.

Florida updates:Total number of cases jumps again, bringing state total to 155

Closures:Here's what is closed or has changed along amid COVID-19 concerns

"If your child's home school is not listed, you may visit any of the participating locations," according to a district statement.

Under federal regulations, children must be present to receive their meals. 

Collier’s meal pick up sites are following a Nationwide Parent Pickup Waiver issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 25, which allows parents and guardians to pick up food without their children present. 

But parents should still come to sites with their children, Oliver wrote in an email.

The district “highly encourages parents to visit food distribution sites with their children in order to expedite the process,” Oliver wrote in an email.

For parents or guardians who arrive without their children, district staff is asking for their name, number of children and their names. 

Parents can only pick up food for their children, according to the district’s guidelines on their website.

More:Public K-12 schools in Lee and Collier will close for extended spring break due to coronavirus

Students have two options when they pick up meals: Students can select breakfast and lunch or lunch and the next day's breakfast.

About 65% of Collier County's 48,292 students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program, according to data from the school district.

Collier school board member Jen Mitchell said Friday after the district announced they were closing that school staff prepared for all aspects that come with shutting school doors, including meals for children. 

Here are schools that are pick up sites for meals.

  • Avalon Elementary, 3300 Thomasson Drive, 34112
  • Big Cypress Elementary, 3250 Golden Gate Blvd West, 34120
  • Calusa Park Elementary, 4600 Santa Barbara Blvd, 34104
  • Cypress Palm Middle, 4255 18th Avenue NE, 34120
  • East Naples Middle, 4100 Estey Avenue, 34104
  • Eden Park Elementary, 3650 Westclox Street, 34142
  • Estates Elementary, 5945 Everglades Blvd North, 34120
  • Everglades City School, 415 School Drive, 34139
  • Golden Gate Elementary, 4911 20th Place SW, 34116
  • Golden Gate High School, 2925 Titan Way, 34116
  • Golden Gate Middle, 2701 48th Terrace SW, 34116
  • Golden Terrace Elementary, 2711 44th Terrace SW, 34116
  • Highlands Elementary, 1101 Lake Trafford Road, 34142
  • Immokalee High School, 701 Immokalee Drive, 34142
  • Lake Trafford Elementary, 3500 Lake Trafford Road, 34142
  • Lely Elementary, 8125 Lely Cultural Parkway, 34113
  • Lely High School, 1 Lely High School Blvd, 34113
  • Manatee Middle, 1920 Manatee Road, 34114
  • Mike Davis Elementary, 3215 Magnolia Pond Drive, 34116
  • Naples Park Elementary, 685 111th Avenue North, 34108
  • Palmetto Elementary, 3000 10th Avenue SE, 34117
  • Palmetto Ridge High School, 1655 Victory Lane, 34120
  • Parkside Elementary, 5322 Texas Avenue, 34113
  • Pinecrest Elementary, 313 9th Street South, 34142
  • Poinciana Elementary, 2825 Airport Road South, 34105
  • Shadowlawn Elementary, 2161 Shadowlawn Drive, 34112
  • Village Oaks Elementary, 1601 State Road 29, 34142

Rachel Fradette is an education reporter for the Naples Daily News. Follow her on Twitter: @Rachel_Fradette, email her at rfradette@gannett.com.

Please consider subscribing to support journalism in your own backyard.