Following is a list of the food service programs being offered by all 11 Char-Em ISD school districts. Most are open to any student from any district; it’s advised to confirm in advance if you plan to visit a site that is not your home district (unless explicitly stated below).
The following includes only school district food service programs. (A number of food establishments in local communities have announced plans to help serve students and families at free / reduced prices. Districts have been sharing those locations on social media and websites.)
Parents / guardians of students in Char-Em ISD programs housed in local districts should inquire with their home district about food programs in which they may participate.
ALANSON and PELLSTON
UPDATED March 23, 2020
Students will have access to free breakfast and lunch during this long closure of school. Any student, whether an Alanson student or not, has access to this service!
Due to the Executive Order on March 23, 2020, and in an effort to still meet the need in our community while keeping our staff safe, Alanson and Pellston schools have made the decision to suspend all food delivery at this time.
Until further notice, breakfasts and lunches will need to be picked up at Alanson Public Schools outside of the kitchen door by the cafeteria entrance.
Pick up at Pellston Public Schools will be in front of the Elementary School.
Food pick up will only take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Pick up times at both locations will be noon to 1 p.m.
We ask that all community members remain in their vehicle and drive up to the pick up locations, food will be loaded into your vehicles. We will be supplying multiple days of breakfasts and lunches on these days.
Both schools will have this pick up service available next week, during our regularly scheduled spring break vacation, and it will continue until we return to school.
BEAVER ISLAND
BICS is continuing its food service program for students and families who have signed up for meals, as well as for Island Elders through the Charlevoix County Commission on Aging. Lunch and next-day breakfast pickup is available each week day between 11:15 a.m. and 12 noon, until the start of Spring Break. Call the BICS school (231) 448-2744 office for more details.
BOYNE FALLS
Free meals for pick up Monday through Friday, between 11 a.m. and noon, both curbside pick up and bus route delivery.
This is open to all children 18 and under from any school / district.
Delivery of meals is available free of charge to for families that live within the normal BFPS bus routes. Call the front office to be placed on the delivery list, (231) 549-2211 ext 200.
UPDATED MARCH 23, 2020: This will continue throughout the mandated school closures (current estimate of food service through April 10, 2020).
BOYNE CITY
Free sack breakfast & lunch bags for pick-up ONLY Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Pick-up will be at the Boyne City High School back door near the bus garage, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
CENTRAL LAKE
UPDATED March 23, 2020
FREE TO ALL CHILDREN AGES 0-18
Monday, March 23 – Thursday, March 26
OPTION 1
Non-bus riders and anybody and everybody
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (dates above)
MSHS Lobby will be open to pick-up and go
Sack breakfast & lunch
Additional foods from pantry will also be available
OPTION 2
Bus riders ONLY
TWO HOURS LATER THAN NORMAL TIME (dates above – give or take 10 minutes since this is a first for us)
Sack breakfast & lunch
Buses will run their regular routes
We will not bring it to the door – you will need to come out to the bus.
We must have a phone call – we won’t stop at your stop without a phone call. Please call (231) 544-3141, ext. 319
Spring Break March 30 – April 3
Monday – Wednesday – Friday ONLY
March 30, April 1, April 3
Lobby Pick Up
10 a.m. – noon
Sack breakfast & lunches for kids
Manna food pick-ups available
CHARLEVOIX
The Rayder Lunch Program is offering free non-perishable meals to all students aged 18 and younger at the following locations and times listed below during the state mandated school closure. The program will begin on Tuesday, March 17. The meals provided will include two days of breakfast and two days of lunches.
UPDATED March 23, 2020:
EAST JORDAN
UPDATED March 23, 2020
East Jordan will continue to provide opportunities for our students to have access to meals during the next three weeks. We are teaming up with the Depot and MANNA food project to help with this process as well. Below are the dates and places students can access food.
- March 25: East Jordan Elementary – pick up at door 10 a.m.
- March 27: East Jordan Elementary – pick up at door 10 a.m.
- April 1: The Depot – pick up on main street in front of the Depot, noon to 2 p.m.
- April 8: East Jordan Elementary – pick up at door 10 a.m.
- April 10:East Jordan Elementary – pick up at door 10 a.m.
ELLSWORTH
UPDATED March 18, 2020
- Two bagged Breakfasts & Lunches provided on each pickup day.
- Pickup available for anyone at Ellsworth Elementary from 10-11 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Pickup for pre-registered families also available from 10-11 a.m. at Friske Farm Market on US 31.
- Delivery service is available within the district by request.
- Emergency Food Service Request Form
HARBOR SPRINGS
UPDATED March 23, 2020
• Harbor Springs Middle School Drop-off/Pick-up loop
• Parking lot of Stutsmanville Chapel (State St. and W. Stutsmanville Rd.)
PELLSTON and ALANSON
UPDATED March 23, 2020
Students will have access to free breakfast and lunch during this long closure of school. Any student, whether an Alanson student or not, has access to this service!
Due to the Executive Order on March 23, 2020, and in an effort to still meet the need in our community while keeping our staff safe, Alanson and Pellston schools have made the decision to suspend all food delivery at this time.
Pick up at Pellston Public Schools will be in front of the Elementary School.
Until further notice, breakfasts and lunches will need to be picked up at Alanson Public Schools outside of the kitchen door by the cafeteria entrance.
Food pick up will only take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Pick up times at both locations will be noon to 1 p.m.
We ask that all community members remain in their vehicle and drive up to the pick up locations, food will be loaded into your vehicles. We will be supplying multiple days of breakfasts and lunches on these days.
Both schools will have this pick up service available next week, during our regularly scheduled spring break vacation, and it will continue until we return to school.
PETOSKEY
We have arranged for food to be provided to all students under the age of 18 during this extended school closure. The food that will be provided will be on a pick-up basis. There are no “eat in” options.
What: Drive or walk to one of the food locations to receive food from the school for children 18 and younger at NO COST to you.
When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting March 16 and ending on April 3
High school pick up: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Other sites pick up hours: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where
Meals will be distributed at the following locations:
– Petoskey High School, drive up near the cafeteria exit and someone will bring food out to you
– Updated location: Conway Commons Manufactured Home Community, 2959 Oden Rd, Harbor Springs, MI 49740-
– Lowe’s, 2140 Anderson Road, main parking lot
– Bayshore Estates – Townline Road, back entrance to trailer park in Bayshore
– Walloon Lake Community Church, 4320 M-75N, parking lot
Manna Food Project responds to COVID-19, opting for a drive-thru pantry and other safety measures
March 17, 2020
HARBOR SPRINGS, MICHIGAN—Northern Michigan has seen an increased need for emergency food assistance, and Manna Food Project stands ready to answer the call. Manna is also committed to do its part in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, so the following preparedness practices have been put into place to help protect the well-being of our staff, volunteers, and people facing hunger during this public health threat.
In an effort to promote “social distancing” during this time, Manna will limit access to and time spent at our facility by:
- Temporarily closing its client-choice food pantry—opting to distribute pre-assembled food boxes to clients with an assortment of shelf-stable, fresh, and frozen foods.
- Requiring partner agencies to place pre-orders for all food items—limiting the number of agency representatives allowed during pickups.
- Canceling all volunteer groups and regularly scheduled volunteer opportunities—relying on staff and select volunteers for ongoing operations.
“This morning, our normal food pantry was replaced with a drive-thru service to minimize person-to-person contact,” says Kim Baker, Manna’s executive director. “It went surprisingly smooth. We served 67 local families, representing 219 individuals. Our plan is to continue this curbside service until the COVID-19 threat subsides.”
Even though schools are closed, Manna continues to distribute “Food 4 Kids” backpacks to preschool programs and schools in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties that still are able to get them into the hands of at-risk students.
“With the recent closure of restaurants and other local businesses, the need for emergency food will certainly increase. So we’re asking our community to continue to donate food and provide financial support to help us meet the need,” says Baker.