Where to Find Meal Services During Austin's School Closures

As Texas schools prepare to shut down through April 3 – either already on their own accord or by Gov. Greg Abbott’s March 19 statewide executive order – some districts have implemented plans to ensure students and their families receive meals during school closures.

We’ve compiled the below list of what we know so far about district-implemented meal services in and around Austin. At the time of this article’s publication, all of these districts plan to serve both breakfast and lunch meals daily Monday through Friday, but make sure to check the district’s website for updates as this is a rapidly evolving situation. If you know of other meal services available to Austin-area students and their families during school closures, please contact Assistant News Editor Beth Sullivan at bsullivan@austinchronicle.com.

Meals During Austin ISD Closure

Starting Mon., March 23, Austin Independent School District will distribute meals at 70 locations while schools are closed. Children under the age of 19 and their accompanying parents or caregivers may pick up one breakfast meal and one lunch meal daily Monday through Friday from 16 curbside meal sites and 54 delivery sites. AISD has created a searchable online map of all meal sites, which is available here.

Weekend meal packs will be distributed on Friday. Cooked and prepared by staff in AISD kitchens, the meals will be served cold to be taken home and reheated. Vegetarian meal options, as well as milk and compostable cutlery, will be available. Individuals must be present to receive meals, and food will be served until it runs out

Though not required, it is recommended that families complete a meal pre-order for their preferred curbside or delivery site. Pre-orders will open Monday through Friday, 5-10:30am, to request meals for that day. (Find links to pre-order forms here.)

AISD Curbside Meal Sites

For curbside meal pickup, families are advised to stay in their cars; families who arrive by walking, biking, or transit will be able to pick up meals outside the campuses. Open from 11am-2pm, curbside meal sites include:

Blackshear Elementary School
Blanton Elementary School
Cook Elementary School
Dawson Elementary School
Govalle Elementary School
Houston Elementary School
Linder Elementary School
Perez Elementary School
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
T.A. Brown Elementary School
Burnet Middle School
Dobie Middle School
Akins Early College High School
Crockett Early College High School
Eastside Memorial Early College High School
LBJ Early College High School

AISD Meal Delivery Sites

AISD buses will deliver meals Monday through Friday at select sites between approximately 10:30am-12:30pm (see full list of delivery sites and schedule here). Families are encouraged to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the bus’ scheduled arrival. Social distancing practices will be implemented during pickup, with children, parents, and caregivers asked to stand six feet apart.

Meals During Pflugerville ISD Closure

Pflugerville Independent School District will provide free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals at 10 curbside pickup locations across the district beginning Mon., March 23. Breakfast will be available between 8-9am, while lunch will be distributed 11am-1pm. Students ages 18 and younger, regardless of PfISD enrollment or residency, are eligible to receive meals, as well as their parents. Find locations and further instruction here.

Meals During Del Valle ISD Closure

Beginning Mon., March 23, Del Valle Independent School District will provide a sack breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday between 7:30-10am at designated bus stops and school pickup sites. Additionally, the district is offering individual delivery for families unable to visit a bus stop or pickup location. See here for meal service details.

Texas Students MealFinder Map

Texas Students MealFinder Map allows families to locate education facilities serving meals in their communities during school closures. Launched March 20 by the Texas Education Agency, in partnership with Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Agriculture, the searchable online map lists the facilities address, as well as the days and times meals will be served.

The Texas Education Agency is asking local education agencies to complete applications through the Texas Department of Agriculture’s website to be included in the map, which will be updated regularly and posted on the TEA website. (Schools requesting guidance on how to complete an application are directed to contact SquareMeals@TexasAgriculture.gov.)