MANATEE – It’s the start of spring break for Manatee County students. While kids are off from school having fun, parents working full-time are now tasked with providing meals to their children that they would ordinarily receive at school.
“So this week is only for the service for the food and for different students, different stop, different area,” said Angel Torres, cook with Manatee County Schools.
The Manatee County School Nutritious Team provides free meals to students while on break. The colorful school bus makes five stops in Palmetto and Bradenton and serves breakfast and lunch.
“Today is five stop different, five stop different, different area, for help on the children,” said Torres.
According to school officials nearly 28,000 students in Manatee County are on free or reduced lunch.
Elisa Rivera says her kids are already used to the school food and is thankful for the extra help during this busy week. “It’s an excellent service that they are giving to the community, and I feel very proud of that because it’s a much needed help that benefits the parents as well as the children,” said Rivera.
Students are offered their choice of milk and a warm meal straight out of the oven. The goal is to provide a healthy nutritious meal to anyone in need.
“It’s happy, its happy when the students pick up [the food] because its continuing food, continue to eat,” said Torres. “It’s helping, everyone is happy to work spring break.”
The free meal school bus is in service the entire week with stops in northern and southern parts of Manatee County.
Palmetto
Turner Chapel
317 11th Street West
11:30am-12:00pm
Lincoln Park
501 17th Street East
12:30pm-1:30pm
Bradenton
South East High School
1200 37th Avenue East
11:00am-11:30am
Bradenton Village Apartments
1302 3rd Street West
12:00pm-12:30pm
City Stop
619 11th Avenue East
1:00pm-1:30pm
For anyone who misses the free meal school bus breakfast and lunch will be served from 8-1 at Manatee Elementary.
