Some schools are now Regional Enrichment Centers for children of essential workers; 400 locations will provide three meals a day to all New Yorkers
What to Know
- Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York City public schools will be closed until April 20 at the least, possibly later
- In the meantime, schools will offer free meals to all adults and kids (find a free meal location here). Some schools have become childcare centers for children of first responders, transit workers and health care workers
- To comply with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance, the Deparment of Education says the sites will be regularly cleaned and disinfected
New York City is expanding its free meal services served at hundreds of schools to include all New Yorkers, regardless if they have children or not.
All adults, children and families are able to get three free meals each day at the more than 400 locations across the city, most of which are city schools which will be closed until at least April 20, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio. There is a significant possibility the closures last longer.
Around 100 schools have turned into so-called Regional Enrichment Centers (REC), the mayor said, which will be for the children of essential services workers — first responders, medical workers, transit employees and others.
The city’s Department of Education also announced a partnership with Door Dash that would allow meals to be delivered across all five boroughs to medically fragile students. Those students include children with compromised immune systems, or ones who lack the mobility to access meals at the distribution centers.
There were more than 800 students identified who will be eligible for delivery of breakfast and lunch, and soon will have the option to have dinner delivered as well.
WHERE DO I GO NOW TO GET FREE MEALS?
The NYC Department of Education says hundreds of schools will provide three meals per day Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Meals for children and families will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and adults from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The DoE said that no one will be turned away and no identification is required. All three meals can be picked up during the same visit, and must be taken off premises to eat. Use the city’s Find a Meal finder to look up the nearest location to you.
Families are also able to request a device from DOE so their children can continue education via remote learning. Here’s the form to get started.
WHERE ARE THE RECS AND HOW DO I SIGN UP?
There will be about 100 Regional Enrichment Centers across the city, according to the DOE. The centers opened March 23 and operate each weekday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. They’re in every borough, with at least two in each district.
These centers offer remote learning, three free meals, childcare, along with art, music and physical education for children of first responders, transit workers and health care workers. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is expanding its criteria starting Friday, March 27, to cover grocery and pharmacy workers, more Health Department staff, essential workers at Probation and Environmental Protection and Staten Island Ferry and NYC Ferry workers. Get full details on the RECs here.
“Please complete the survey today ONLY if you are a health care worker, first responder, or transit worker,” the NYC Department of Education said.
After the form is submitted, parents and guardians will be contacted by a DOE official within 48-72 hours and they will be provided with additional details about where and how to bring their children to a REC site.
In order to comply with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance, DOE says the REC sites will be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Social distancing protocols, such as maintaining 6 feet distance between people, will also be in place.
If you are an educator and interested in helping out at one of these centers, click here to fill out an interest form.
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