Kemper bus drivers deliver meals during closure

Bus drivers for Kemper County Schools are delivering grab-and-go meals to students during the school closure.

Last week, Governor Tate Reeves announced that all public schools would be closed until April 17th due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kemper County School District quickly implemented a plan to support families and students who depend on the free and reduced breakfast and lunch program.

"We refuse to let a child go hungry," said Hilute Hudson, superintendent of Education for Kemper County School District. "Hundred of our students would have been missing meals they regularly depend on during school. We simply were not going to let that happen."

Kemper County School buses are running across the county, but instead of picking up students, they are dropping off grab-and-go meals, which includes breakfast and lunch. "Our bus drivers are traveling their normal routes and making stops to deliver meals to every child that wants it, not just those who are in the free meal program," said Doug Newton, director of transportation for Kemper County Schools. "We are happy to do this and we can tell the families really appreciate it because the kids faces light up when we pull up."

Grab-and-go meals are prepared by Kemper County Child Nutrition Services team which also offers two pickup locations for meals at the campuses of East Kemper Elementary and West Kemper Elementary schools from 10 am – noon, Mondays and Thursdays, during the school closure.

"I am very proud of how all of our staff quickly stepped in and stepped up to support our students," said Hudson. "We will continue to help our families and students through this crisis, no matter how long that lasts."