Mariner HS in Cape Coral added as school meal pickup location

The School District of Lee County is adding another site to its grab-and-go meal program to provide even more children with food while schools are closed.

Starting Monday, anyone under 18 can get breakfast and lunch from Mariner High School in Cape Coral from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Definitely, feeding five kids, it’s hard, definitely,” mother Deandra Martin previously told WINK News. “My husband isn’t working because, you know, the virus. So we’re really thankful for it that the school is giving it.”

The district is now serving meals at 31 schools and six bus routes around Lee County. Staff at these sites have served more than 130,000 meals since schools were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The district hopes this new addition helps make sure no child goes hungry.

“As the schools stay closed longer, more and more families are in need of meals that we can provide, this breakfast and lunch,” said Rob Spicker with the district. And so, along the way, we’ve expanded to meet the need.”

The district says parents do not have to bring their kids to pick up meals in the grab-and-go car line. But they do need to bring proof that the meals are for children. That proof can be a recent report card or a family photo.

“By opening up Mariner High School nearby, some of that traffic can go to the high school instead, and get through the lines at Hector Cafferata quicker,” Spicker said. “But we’ll also attract more and new audience at Mariner High School.”

The district says it’s prepared to add more meal locations, if necessary.

“It is something that the longer this goes, the more are going to need,” Spicker said. “And we’re happy to be able to provide it.”

MORE: “Grab and Go” Meal Pick Up Sites in Lee County