School meals available for children and families
Schools are closed but meal service continues across Nebraska
The COVID-19 virus has forced all of Nebraska 244 school districts to close for the foreseeable future, but it has not stopped the heroic efforts of school personnel to feed students.
Grab and Go
Below is a list of known communities that are offering Grab and Go meals through the school system (data compiled from multiple sources). Please consult your local school district’s website for more information (download a list of websites here).
Useful Resources
- The Nebraska Department of Education has identified nearly 200 districts around the state operating free, grab and go meal services to kids 1-18. Find a map of “open to all” and “closed” (or only available to kids enrolled) locations here.
- The USDA’s Meals 4 Kids map shares open site information but also includes open meal sites across the US.
- Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to No Kid Hungry’s texting service at 877-877 to get referred to the 3 closest meal sites open near you.
Community by community school meal service for kids 1-18 during school closures
ADM Community School District
The ADM Community School District started a daily free sack lunch program on Monday, March 23. The program will be offered to all ADM residents 18 years old or younger on Monday through Friday. Locations include:
- Minburn School Building, 9:45-10:30 am
- Adel Elementary, 11-11:45 am
- ADM Middle/High School, 11-11:45 am
- DeSoto Intermediate, 12:30-1:15 pm
Families can walk or drive to one of the above serving locations. If driving, parents are encouraged to remain in their vehicles to allow for a safe interaction between ADM staff or volunteers and community members.
In the drive up line, the adult in the vehicle will tell the server how many free sack lunches are needed for kids ages 18 or younger.
Alliance
Alliance Public School: Grab & Go meals pickup lunches Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Middle School Gym doors. Do not exit your vehicle, lunches will be brought to you. On Monday and Wednesday, they will serve 1 hot lunch and 1 cold lunch, and on Friday, it will be 1 hot lunch. Open to all kids ages 1-18.
Bayard
For families that indicated a preference for meal delivery, drivers will be making contact to determine details. Please be sure that you do not have any dogs out that would be a danger to our staff members when they are making deliveries. Any special arrangements can be made directly with the staff member delivering the meal. For any additional information, please contact Mr. James Miller at james.miller@bayardtigers.org.
Beatrice
Free meals to kids ages 1-18. Kids need to be present when the meal is handed out. Meals are available at:
- Lincoln Elementary – north parking lot
- Paddock Lane Elementary – east parking lot
- Beatrice Middle School – 4th St (heading North)
- Stoddard Elementary – teacher parking lot on the southwest end
- Beatrice Community Preschool
- YMCA Parking Lot
- Beatrice Public Library Parking Lot
- Meriweather & N Bell
- Family & Friends Gathering Event Center (604 West Court)
- South 8th & Green (Old Hospital Location)
- 3rd & Belvedere Ave
- Roszell-Exmark Park (Union & Park St)
Meals can be picked up from 11 am to 12 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday will include 2 breakfast and 2 lunches. Wednesday will include 2 breakfast and 2 lunches. Friday will include 1 lunch and 1 breakfast.
Please help in our preparation and complete the survey if you need meals.
Bridgeport
Sack lunch including breakfast items for the following day. Pickup from 11 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday. Open to households from birth to school age.
Email schoollunch@bpsbulldogs.org with the number and name of students and younger household members by 9 am. Once you begin participating, they assume you will pick up the same number of meals each day.
Cedar Bluffs
Grab and Go meals at Cedar Bluffs elementary and Fremont YMCA. Kids must be present to receive free meals. Pickup from 10 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday. Backpack program meals will be delivered to homes.
Chadron
Chadron Public Schools: Grab and Go breakfast and lunch pickup at Chadron Intermediate North Red Door attached to gym and Chadron Middle School East Parking Lot from 11 am to 12:30 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday and Wednesday will serve 2 days of meals and Friday 3 days of meals. Open to kids ages 1-18.
Columbus
The FREE CPS lunch program (Grab and Go lunch and breakfast) is available to ALL kids in the community. Parents and/or students can pick up their grab and go bags Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm at any of the 7 CPS school buildings as well as from 11 am to 1 pm in Duncan at the Village Hall. On Thursdays you can also pick up your meals for Friday.
Gering
Gering Public Schools: Grab and Go meals (breakfast and lunch) will be available for pickup on Monday through Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm at Northfield Elementary (front door) and Lincoln Elementary (South door off “Q” St). Open to all kids of ages 1-18.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg Public Schools are offering meals to all students under the age of 18 on weekdays. No food from the school will be available on weekends. We will continue until March 30, or until school reopens.
These meals are provided at no cost to families. Each meal sack will contain food for breakfast and lunch for each child in your family. Families may opt in at any time by completing this form or contacting the Nutrition Services Director at Gothenburg Public Schools.
Meals are available to pick up between 11:30 am and 12 pm at Gothenburg Public Schools, Activity Entrance, 1322 Ave. I, Gothenburg, NE
They have changed the pickup location for the safety of the community and staff. IF this presents a hardship for you, call the number below to arrange for an alternative pick up location. Contact Joni Jacobsen, Nutrition Services Director, at (308) 537.3651 ext. 6127 if you have any questions. Access the online form here.
Grand Island
Grab and Go meals for kids are served from 11 am to 12:30 pm daily at the main entrance of the following locations, unless noted otherwise:
- Walnut Middle School; 1600 N Custer Ave.; Door 23 (east entrance)
- Knickrehm Elementary; 2013 N Oak St.
- Seedling Mile Elementary; 3208 East Seedling Mile Rd.
- Dodge Elementary; 641 S Oak St.
- Howard Elementary; 502 W 9th St.
- Lincoln Elementary; 805 N Beal St.
- Starr Elementary; 1800 S Adams St.
- Shoemaker Elementary; 4160 W Old Potash Highway
Gretna
Gretna Public Schools Emergency Feeding form is available for families to fill out here. Pick up is currently planned at Gretna High School and Whitetail Elementary at the front entrances. Please check the form to choose your preferred date and time for pick up.
Holdrege
Kids ages 19 or under and in the Holdrege School System can pick the meals at Holdrege Middle School or the Holdrege Elementary school circles from Monday through between 11am and 12:30 pm. Adult meals are also available for $4 but they ask that you have exact change.
Kearney
Grab and Go lunches are available to all kids ages 1-18 from 11 am to 12 pm at three different school locations: Bryant, Central, and Emerson schools will all provide drive-through pick up lunches. The lunches will also include breakfast items. Students must be present to receive lunches and do not need to have a parent accompany them. School cafeterias will not be made available to prevent the potential spreading of any germs.
Kimball
The lunch goers also received the next day’s breakfast. Grab and go.
Lincoln
Distribution once a week on Mondays. Students must be present. Available at multiple locations. For more information, go here.
Lyons-Decatur
Lyons-Decatur Northeast began providing breakfast and lunch free of charge to district families, ages 1-18. Lyons meals are available at 11:30 am for pickup at the cafeteria. Decatur meals will be delivered to Decatur between 11:30 am and 12 pm.
Maywood
If you would like to have breakfast and/or lunch delivered to your residence, contact the school one day prior to delivery, by 1 pm. There will not be choices, the cooks will prepare the meal and it will be delivered. When you call in, or email to request a meal, you also will need to leave your address and a phone number to be contacted at, in case a question arises. You can contact the office at (308) 362-4223 or at maywood.transportation@maywoodtigers.org.
Millard
Millard Public Schools are distributing meals from various buildings. Community Meals will be distributed to families with school age children. Distribution will include breakfast and lunch. No identification or sign in will be required. For more information, check our this flyer on Meal Distribution Sites
Mitchell
Sack lunches are available at the Mitchell Elementary Cafeteria from Monday through Friday at 11 am to 12 pm
Nebraska City
Nebraska City Public Schools: Any child in the district, whose school has been closed due to COVID-19, may pick up a free meal at the West Door of Hayward Elementary beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020 from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm. The meal will include a lunch for the day of pick up, and a breakfast for the next day.
A new delivery schedule will go into effect starting Wednesday, April 1, and hours will be extended from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Hayward Elementary, 306 S. 14th St. (meals will be handed out on the west side of the building).
Free meals are handed out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Kids will still receive lunch/breakfast for the whole week. They will receive two breakfasts and two lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Fridays, they will receive six meals.
Norfolk
Norfolk Public Schools and Lunchtime Solutions will be providing Grab and Go breakfasts and lunches at no charge for all kids ages 0-18, regardless of income or free and reduced meal qualification. A maximum of five breakfasts/lunches may be picked up per individual.
Pick up is available on Wednesday, March 18 and each Wednesday thereafter, from 10 am to 1 p.m. at
- Norfolk Senior High School (south entrance),
- Norfolk Middle School (at west school doors),
- Little Panthers Preschool (doors at the west side of the building)
This will be set up as a drive-thru service at each building. Beginning on Wednesday, March 25 and each Wednesday thereafter during the shutdown period, additional pick-up locations will include the Junior High School (east doors) and Woodland Park Elementary (front entrance). We ask that you go to a location nearest to your household geographically.
To help better forecast the number of meals needed at these buildings, please call in with meal counts and pick-up location to: Amanda Liewer (402) 644-2500, or email Amanda at amandaliewer@npsne.org.
North Platte
Drive Through Breakfast & Lunch Pickup
NPPSD is providing free breakfast and lunch to kids ages 18 years old and younger.
Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, until further notice, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Drive Through Location Madison Middle School, 1400 N Madison Ave, North Platte, NE 69101
Guidelines
Breakfast and lunch will be provided in pre-packaged bags for all district kids ages 18 and younger Monday through Friday until further notice. Pick up times are from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Children must be in the vehicle to receive their bag of food.
Enter from Jackson Avenue, which is on the west side of Madison, through the alley, proceed to the loading dock, stop and pick-up bags, exit to 14th St.
Please do not park and get out of your vehicle. Please do not congregate or consume meals on-site.
Omaha
OPS: Skinner Magnet Center, Gateway Elementary, Omaha South High, and Benson High. Students will need to be in the vehicle to receive a package. The program will provide a limited number of Grab and Go packages with several meals inside for students and will be served on Mondays.
Check here for more information and here for mobile pantries and other opportunities in the community.
Papillion-La Vista
Papillion-La Vista Community Schools is offering free breakfast and lunches for all families in need. Pick up a week’s worth of grab and go breakfast and lunches for kids ages 1-18, every Monday from 7:30 am to 11 am.
Locations
- La Vista Middle School, 7900 Edgewood Blvd La Vista, NE 68128
- Golden Hills Elementary, 2912 Coffey Ave, Bellevue, NE 68123
Perry
Perry Elementary and Perry High School are participating in a Grab and Go meal during the school closure. Free Grab and Go breakfast and lunch meals are provided to all kids ages 18 and under. Meals will be provided, as a first-come, first-serve basis, at the sites and times as follows:
- At the elementary school meals can be picked up in back of the school by the PACES entrance/bus drop off site from 10:30 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday.
- At the high school meals can be picked up in the front of the school by the main door from 10:30 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday.
Ralston
Ralston Public Schools is offering daily breakfast and lunch pick-up meals for students. Families can pick up meals at Ralston High School and Ralston Middle School from 9 am to 12 pm.
Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff Public Schools: Grab and Go meals are available for kids ages 18 and under. One household member per family to pick up all meals based on the school the oldest attends. If your oldest child goes to Roosevelt, Longfellow, Lake Minatare or Roosevelt Preschool, you can pick up the food inside Elementary Monday and Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30 am and 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
If your families oldest attends Bluffs Middle School, Lincoln Heights, Scottsbluff High, Westmoor, ReConnect, CHOICES, Bear Cub Preschool Stadium location, Lifelinks, ESU Meridian, your pickup location is at the West Gym/Cafetorium Entry at Bluffs Middle School on Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 am and 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Sidney
Sidney Public Schools: Distributing lunches and breakfast items (included in lunch) 11 am to 11:15 am every weekday at North Elementary and 11 am to 11:30 am at Sidney High School.
West Point
All students are provided free breakfast and lunch options while school is closed. Households can sign up on the school’s website and expect to pick up meals at the regular bus stops in town. Bus stops in nearby towns that the school also serves—Beemer, Scribner, and Snyder—will receive the service. Students of another area school can also participate.
Parents select the stops and the pick-up times.
Westside
Westside Community Schools is offering free breakfast and lunches for all kids. Pick up a week’s worth of meals for any student ages 1-18.
Every Monday starting March, 23 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Westbrook Elementary School, 1312 Robertson Dr.
- Westside Middle School, 8601 Arbor St.
- Prairie Lane Elementary School/Swing School campus, 3534 S. 108th St.
Every Monday, March 23 from 4 pm – 7 pm
- Westside Middle School, 8601 Arbor St.
Keeping the health of all Nebraska kids and families as top priority
State administrators and school nutrition professionals have been working tirelessly to make sure students and families, who may be experiencing layoffs, fewer hours at work, closed offices, and the increased strain of serving more meals to kids at home, have the nutrition they need to be healthy, active, and safe.
For more information, please contact our senior economic justice coordinator, Eric Savaiano at (402) 438-8853 ext. 126 or esavaiano@neappleseed.org.