Hamilton County Schools announced Friday that the district will have designated sites that will provide free meals for needy students to pickup while schools are closed due to the coronavirus.

In East Ridge those areas are East Ridge and Spring Creek Elementary Schools.

This service will begin on Tuesday, March 17, and continue through March 20. Breakfast will be served from 7 to 9 a.m., while lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to a Hamilton County Schools, the free meals are being made available for children who are toddlers to 18-years of age. Families do not need to proof of school enrollment, its income level, or that they are eligible for free/reduced lunches at school. However, children must be present to get the meals and no extra meals are to be distributed to children that are not on site.

According to a Hamilton County Schools statement, options concerning the food program for the week of March 23 are being finalized and will be announced at a later time.

In Hamilton County about 65 percent of students – about 30,000 children – are “economically disadvantaged” and have access to free breakfast and lunch at schools.

Bill Rush, executive director of the J.A. Henry Community YMCA, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the program is a joint effort between the YMCA, Hamilton County Department of School Nutrition, non-profit organizations in the community, and community partners.

The Highland Park Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. serving breakfast and lunch, officials said.

According to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, one in eight people in our region suffers from “food insecurity,” meaning people don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Officials from the food bank said it is in need because volunteer groups are backing away from commitments over coronavirus concerns.