Many area school districts have meal programs in place for its students during the COVID-19.

During Tuesday’s Tamaqua Area School Board meeting, Superintendent Ray Kinder said Tamaqua’s program will be up and running no later than Monday.

“Many other schools who do this more often during summertime already had it up and running,” Kinder said. “We have applied and hope to be approved as early as tomorrow. Some of these districts already have locations set up, they already know the procedures, they already have plastic containers and storage and all of those types of things. We just don’t have them because we don’t necessarily do it.”

Kinder said that it would be drive-through type of setup. A few local organizations such as the Salvation Army have reached out to try to coordinate to lend a hand.

Is the service only for low-income students? Board member Daniel Schoener asked, “Why would we want to serve everyone?”

Kinder replied, “I would guess if we could, we could be reimbursed for it and it would also help people out during this time. Again, if it’s for a longer period of time in theory or possibility, other types of food may be scarce for some people. … The current thought right now I believe is that we probably do a lunchtime delivery, which would include lunch, and breakfast for the next morning would also be in the bag.”