CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The potential for school closures looms large, as the community prepares for the coronavirus pandemic. This leaves some non-profit agencies scrambling to care for their participants before closures are enforced.
There has not been any confirmation of plans to cancel Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools for an extended period of time. CMCSS is closed Friday, March 13 and they have adjusted their attendance policy to reflect more flexibility regarding sick leave.
In response, programs such as F.U.E.L. are rushing to ensure the students they serve receive necessary food bags before extended shutdowns may be enacted. F.U.E.L. is a food subsidization program designed to ‘fill the gap’ for children whose only consistent food source may be the food they receive from school.
The program prepares sack meals for students, discreetly filling their bag with essential items. Many times, this may be the only access to food the child has for an entire weekend.
The children are chosen by the schools, not based on income, but based on signs of hunger. In Montgomery County every school is being served by the FUEL program. Over 2,000 kids receive a bag of non-perishable food every Friday. Approximately 72,000 bags of food are handed out throughout the school year.
On Thursday, March 12 FUEL directors were urging coordinators across the county to drop off extra bags to the schools “to prepare for children who do not return to school for up to two weeks due to virus”.
Now, the organization is again reaching out pleading with children and families to tell someone if they are in need.
A school closure could present a huge risk to some of these children.
If you are interested in supporting the FUEL program or donating items, contact Denise Skidmore, FUEL director, at 931-624-3181 or send them a message via Facebook.