Meals for kids

Cape Girardeau School District started providing meals to children Wednesday, March 18, 2020, while schools are closed due to concerns over COVID-19. Kristin Tallent, communications director for Cape Girardeau Public Schools, said there are five locations (all of the elementary schools) operating from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Tallent said the food, for any kids 18 years old and younger, consists of a hot lunch and a breakfast item to take home for the next day. “We know that so many of our families depend on us to provide meals for their children and so we want to make sure we continue that even though we’re not, you know, able to be back in school right now,” Tallent said. In an email after the first day of the service, Tallent said 636 children were served Wednesday from the five locations. Tallent said the plan is to provide the service as long as school is out. “And hopefully we’ll be able to continue to provide it,” she said. Tallent said the service is available for any children 18 and younger not just students of Cape Girardeau Public Schools.