KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend the Free Meals for Kids Program until December 2020. This extension allows Kingsport City Schools School Nutrition Services Department to serve free breakfast and lunch, starting September 1, 2020, to all children, 18 and under, until the end of December. This unprecedented move by the USDA will help ensure children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless if they are in-person or virtual learners. 

"We are thrilled that this change will once again allow us to offer free meals to all of Kingsport's children through the end of this calendar year," said KCS School Nutrition Services Supervisor Jennifer Walker, RD.  "Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak last spring, KCS has been proud to provide this vital service to our community.  We are excited to help ensure that all our children will continue to receive healthy meals during this difficult time."  

No cost meals (breakfast and lunch) will be served on all school days to all children 18 years of age or younger until December 18, 2020 (the last day of school before KCS Winter Break). "Grab and Go" meals will be provided from 10 - 10:30 a.m. at school sites for KCS Remote Choice Learning students and non-KCS students. There are no income requirements to participate in this meal program.     

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food," said  U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially. We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school foodservice professionals year in and year out, but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually – so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments.”  

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.  

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,700 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to Inspire. Cultivate. Impact.

For more information on KCS, visit www.k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, download our mobile app for Apple/Android devices or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District), Instagram (@kcs_district), LinkedIn (Kingsport City Schools), and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).  

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