Atlanta Public Schools (APS), with help from community partner, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, will enhance its emergency food distribution program by providing families with a bag of groceries each week, beginning Monday, March 23.

This week, APS set up meal/food distribution sites at a total of 10 school sites, after the decision was made to close schools in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The distribution period is 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following locations:

Ralph Bunche Middle School | 1925 Niskey Lake Road, SW

Cleveland Avenue Elementary School | 2672 Old Hapeville Road, SW

Frederick Douglass High School | 225 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive, NW

Phoenix Academy (formerly Alonzo A. Crim High School) | 256 Clifton Street, SE

Sylvan Hills Middle School | 1461 Sylvan Road, SW

Booker T. Washington High School |45 Whitehouse Drive, SW

Hope-Hill Elementary School | 112 Boulevard Avenue, NE

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School | 545 Hill Street, SE

Thomasville Heights Elementary School | 1820 Henry Thomas Drive, SE

Jean Childs Young Middle School | 3116 Benjamin E Mays Drive, SW

On Monday, families may pick up one bag of shelf-stable groceries, while supplies last, at one of these four established food distribution sites:

Cleveland Avenue Elementary School | 2672 Old Hapeville Road, SW

Frederick Douglass High School | 225 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive, NW

Phoenix Academy (formerly Alonzo A. Crim High School) | 256 Clifton Street, SE

Sylvan Hills Middle School | 1461 Sylvan Road, SW

On Tuesday, families may pick up one bag of shelf-stable groceries, while supplies last, at this established food distribution site:

Ralph Bunche Middle School | 1925 Niskey Lake Road, SW

Also this week, the District began food distribution on all middle school bus routes in the following clusters: Carver, Douglass, Jackson, Mays, South Atlanta, Therrell and Washington. The routes are posted at www.atlantapublicschools.us/coronavirus.

At the end of each bus route and site distribution, the District’s non-profit partners take any extra food and deliver it to APS communities.  The District can serve tens of thousands of meals each day and encourages families to come and pick up the meals at a school site or a bus stop.

The distribution of a bag of groceries is in addition to the emergency meal distribution the District began on this week, where it is offering three food service supports:

Breakfast and lunch grab-and-go bags

Fresh produce provided by local nonprofit Goodr

Shelf-stable foods provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank (i.e. nonperishables)

Furthermore, the Atlanta Community Food Bank has more than 50 sites for food distribution. (As a reminder, APS does not manage the hours or service at these food distribution sites. Families should contact the food distribution sites directly for information about their hours, service, and any other requirements for food). Click here to see the full list of food distribution sites through the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Meals are available to children 18 years old or younger, or 22 years old or younger for children with special needs. Children must be present to receive the meal and be counted for required state and federal recordkeeping. Families are encouraged to pull up with their children in a drive-thru style for service, and should remain in their vehicle while receiving their food. Walk-ups are welcome.