This pandemic has created a financial hardship for many of our families. As such, parents may be challenged with providing nutritious meals to their children while they are away from school during the holidays.

I am excited to share that for the first time our district will provide students with free meals over Winter Break. Our tremendous Student Nutrition Services team is launching Winter Break Meal Bags. Each bag contains 14 meals – enough food to serve breakfast and lunch for 7 days for one child. These meals meet all USDA nutritional guidelines.

We will have multiple options for families to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity. Parents and guardians can reserve a meal bag, one per child, by filling out a form at www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCPSWinterBreakMealBag.

Families who reserve a bag will be able to pick it up at our Silo Bend Distribution Center, located at 9036 Brittany Way, Tampa, FL 33619, between 12pm and 7pm on December 14th, 15th or 16th.

Supplies are limited, so reserving a bag is strongly encouraged.

There will be another opportunity for families, at one of 25 Grab and Go sites, from 10-11:30 a.m., on Thursday, December 17th. A list of the locations is below:

School Address 12000 U.S. Hwy. 92, Seffner Blake High School 1701 North Boulevard, Tampa 1700 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico Brandon High School 1101 Victoria St., Brandon Chamberlain High School 9401 N. Boulevard, Tampa Durant High School 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City 7710 Old Big Bend Rd., Gibsonton Freedom High School 17410 Commerce Park Blvd., Tampa 16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Ave., Tampa Jefferson High School 4401 Cypress St., Tampa King High School 6815 N. 56th St., Tampa Lennard High School 2342 E. Shell Point Rd., Ruskin Leto High School 4409 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa Middleton High School 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa Newsome High School 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia Plant High School 2415 S. Himes Ave., Tampa One Raider Place, Plant City Riverview High School 11311 Boyette Rd., Riverview Robinson High School 6311 S. Lois Ave., Tampa 8538 Eagle Palm Dr., Riverview 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd., Lutz Strawberry Crest High School 4691 Gallagher Rd., Dover Sumner High School 10650 County Rd. 672, Riverview Wharton High School 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa

Thank you to our Student Nutrition Staff for going the extra mile for our students and families. I also want to thank each of you for your continued hard work and dedication.

Addison G. Davis Superintendent of Schools