Featured Image Source: Annette Montgomery/WPDE
Due to several Horry County Schools employees testing positive for COVID-19, the district has suspended meal services for two weeks. The program began on March 16th and enabled Horry County Schools to serve 166,072 meals to its students. Meal services consisted of 13 “grab-and-go” meal sites and bus meal pick-up locations. As of Thursday, April 16th these sites have been shut down.
As of last week, three Horry County attendance areas — Conway, Socastee and North Myrtle Beach — have been impacted by employees who tested positive for the coronavirus. Multiple employees working in the meal program have since had to self-quarantine because of potential exposure.
In lieu of the program, community leaders have stepped up to fill the gap, as reported by WPDE.com. Local Ekklesia Church is doing its part through donations with Meals On Wheels, cooking food and bringing it to the church for distribution to families. Those looking to help can message Ekklesia Church on Facebook, drop food off at the church, or make a monetary donation.
The school district will assess whether the meal program can begin again following the two-week suspension of service. The community is urged to monitor the district’s website and social media for updates. In the meantime, we have organizations like Ekklesia Church to support in order to keep the community fed.