FCPS adds 11 schools to free meals program

Families pick up packaged lunches at Bailey’s Elementary School.

UPDATE, March 19: Many more sites have been added. See the full list here.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 17, Fairfax County Public Schools is adding 11 schools to its meal distribution program for a total of 29.

The program ensures schoolchildren can get free healthy grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches while schools are closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Libby Lyon of FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (left), and Rama Gundapaneni, the food services manager at Annandale Terrace Elementary School, hand out grab-and-go lunches at Annandale Terrace.

Among the new sites added are these schools in Mason District area: Bren Mar Park Elementary School, Glen Forest ES, and Parklawn ES.

Those schools join Annandale Terrace ES, Bailey’s Primary ES, Braddock ES, Weyanoke ES, and others throughout the county.

Breakfast is served 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch is 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at all locations. Adults can purchase a meal for $2.

[Update: Nine additional sites will be added March 18, including Falls Church High School, Bailey’s Community Center, James Lee Community Center, and Willston Multicultural Center.]

Bailey’s Elementary School had a big crowd on Monday. That site distributed 70 breakfasts and 275 lunches by 1:25 p.m. and also sold meals to 22 adults, reports Megan Mauer of FCPS Food and Nutrition Services.

Lunch packages included turkey and cheese sandwiches, cucumber slices, chocolate milk, and an apple or pear. For breakfast, kids got a cinnamon roll, apple, and juice or milk.

As of 12:40 p.m. on Monday, 49 children picked up a grab-and-go breakfast and 116 picked up a lunch at Braddock Elementary in Annandale.

There were fewer meal pickups at Annandale Terrace Elementary; just 75 meals were given out as of 1:50 p.m. Families at that site were also given grocery gift cards donated by a local church.

Related story: FCPS closes schools until further notice, expands meal distribution to 18 locations

Local food banks are also stepping up to help fill the gap while schools remain closed. The Heritage Campus of Annandale United Methodist Church (7901 Heritage Drive), for example, is offering emergency food from Food for Others on Tuesday evenings, 5-7 p.m., through June 30. This is in addition to the regular Thursday evening food programs at that site.

Food for Others also hosts food distribution programs at other sites in the Annandale, Seven Corners, and Bailey’s Crossroads areas.