EDUCATION

Here's how and where Knox County Schools will provide free meals while schools are closed

Monica Kast
Knoxville News Sentinel

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Knox County Schools has announced 25 locations where anyone under the age of 18 can get food free of charge while schools are closed. 

Knox County Schools will be closed through April 3 due to coronavirus concerns. There have been two cases of COVID-19 reported in Knox County, although the second person who tested positive does not currently live in Tennessee. 

Meals cannot be distributed while schools are on spring break, according to federal regulations, so they will be available starting Monday, March 23. 

Meals will be available through a drive-thru or walk-up, but no dine-in options are available. Locations will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon while schools are closed. Two days of food will be distributed on Mondays and Wednesdays, and one day of food distributed on Fridays.

Children must be present to receive the meals, but can choose any location in Knox County.

Locations are:

  • Austin-East High School: 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Knoxville, TN 37914
  • Bearden Middle School: 1000 Francis Road, Knoxville, TN 37909
  • Bearden High School: 8352 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
  • Beaumont Magnet Academy: 1211 Beaumont Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921
  • Belle Morris Elementary School: 2308 Washington Pike, Knoxville, TN 37917
  • Carter High School: 210 N. Carter School Road, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871
  • Central High School: 5321 Jacksboro Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918
  • Dogwood Elementary School: 705 Tipton Ave., Knoxville, TN 37920
  • East Knox Elementary School: 9315 Rutledge Pike, Mascot, TN 37806
  • Fulton High School: 2509 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917
  • Gibbs High School: 7628 Tazewell Pike, Corryton, TN 37721
  • Green Magnet Academy: 801 Lula Powell Drive, Knoxville, TN 37915
  • Gresham Middle School: 500 Gresham Road, Knoxville, TN 37918
  • Halls High School: 4321 E. Emory Road, Knoxville, TN 37938
  • Inskip Elementary School: 4701 High School Road, Knoxville, TN 37912
  • Karns Middle School: 2925 Gray Hendrix Road, Knoxville, TN 37931
  • Lonsdale Elementary School: 1317 Louisiana Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921
  • Maynard Elementary School: 737 College Street, Knoxville, TN 37921
  • Northwest Middle School: 5301 Pleasant Ridge Road, Knoxville, TN 37912
  • Pond Gap Elementary School: 4530 Papermill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37909
  • Powell High School: 2136 W. Emory Road, Powell, TN 37849
  • Sarah Moore Greene Academy: 3001 Brooks Ave., Knoxville, TN 37914
  • South-Doyle Middle School: 3900 Decatur Road, Knoxville, TN 37920
  • South-Doyle High School: 2020 Tipton Station Road, Knoxville, TN 37920
  • West High School: 3300 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37919

Starting on March 25, there will be an additional eight food distribution sites, in coordination with the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee. The additional sites will be open on the same days and times as the original locations. 

The new locations are:

  • West Haven Recreation Center: 3622 Sisk Rd NW, Knoxville, TN 37921
  • Cumberland Estates Recreation Center: 4529 Silverhill Dr., Knoxville, TN 37921
  • Richard Leake Recreation Center: 3511 Alice Bell Road, Knoxville, TN 37917
  • Milton E. Roberts Recreation Center: 5900 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37924
  • South Knoxville Community Center: 522 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920
  • Inskip-Norwood Recreation Center: 301 W Inskip Dr., Knoxville, TN 37912
  • Ed Cothren Pool at Malcolm-Martin Park: 1737 Reynolds Street, Knoxville, TN 37921
  • Montgomery Village: 1516 Daylily Dr., Knoxville, TN 37920

Local restaurants and hotels have stepped up, as well. Many are offering free food for kids, no questions asked. Those restaurants include Hilton Knoxville, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Token Game Tavern and Yassin's.