INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — In an effort to ensure children do not miss meals during school closures amid the coronavirus outbreak, officials will serve breakfast and lunch starting next week.
“This is an unexpected, and last-minute closing of schools. We know some of our families are in a situation where they are looking for childcare and food for their children during the two weeks schools are closed,” School District of Indian River County spokeswoman Cristen Maddux said.
“We want to do everything we can to support our families and provide normalcy for our students during what is an unsettling time for everyone.”
The mobile café will operate from March 16 to March 20 – the closing dates for schools across the state. Local schools will also be closed the following week for spring break.
“All children 18 and younger may come to the food bus for breakfast and lunch,” school officials said Saturday in a Twitter social media post. “We love our community and will miss our students while we are closed over the next two weeks. Please stay safe and healthy.”
A food bus will deliver the food items to locations in north county, central county and south county.
All children 18 and younger may come to the food bus for breakfast and lunch! We love our community and will miss our students while we are closed over the next two weeks. Please stay safe and healthy. Food bus locations and times start Monday 3/16. pic.twitter.com/FjbQt6ekn1
— Indian River Schools (@IRCSchools) March 14, 2020
The times and locations for the food bus are below. Residents should check the school district website for updates.
*Times and locations for SDIRC mobile cafe
-North County
- Grace Meadows, breakfast 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., lunch 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
- Whispering Pines, breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
- Sonrise I and II, breakfast 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., lunch noon to 12:20 p.m.
- Pelican Isle, breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
-Central County
- Grace Groves, breakfast 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., lunch 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
- Orangewood Park Apartments, breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
- Grace Pines, breakfast 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., lunch noon to 12:20 p.m.
- Victory Park Apartments, breakfast 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., lunch 12:30 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
-South County
- Grace Woods West, breakfast 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., lunch 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
- Waterside, breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
- Preserve at Oslo, breakfast 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., lunch noon to 12:20 p.m.
- Pemberly Palms Apartments, breakfast 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., lunch 12:30 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, originated in China in late 2019, but slowly made its way to the United States as individuals traveled back and forth by plane to their destinations, according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, there have been no confirmed reports of coronavirus cases in Indian River County.
Friday, schools superintendent David Moore announced the district has a shutdown implementation plan. School officials plan to keep classes going remotely, Moore said.
The district has 10,000 laptops that could be issued to students who don’t have technology access at home. The bulk of laptops would come from the classes’ computer carts, Moore said.
Moore said mobile hotspots can be issued to those without internet.
Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency as the number of coronavirus cases statewide began to slowly rise.
As of late Saturday, there were 64 cases of Florida residents who tested positive for the infection in the state. At least three residents have died so far from the illness, which has a range of mild to severe effects.
The respiratory virus is spread among people through droplets from coughs or sneezes, health officials said. Individuals most at risk of having critical complications, including death, from coronavirus are the elderly and those who already have serious health issues.