BUCKHANNON – Because of requests from multiple families, the Upshur County Schools will offer some later hours for five-day food boxes for students while schools are following the remote-only model of learning through Jan. 4, 2021.

Five-day food boxes will be available curbside on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Buckhannon Academy Elementary School, located at 16 College Ave. in Buckhannon.

Upshur County Schools Director of Wellness and Child Nutrition Eddie Vincent said he worked with BAES Principal Susanne Britton to set up the additional hours to accommodate families who work later in the day and do not have access to pick up meals during the regular hours.

The food boxes at BAES are available to any family who has students in Upshur County Schools and is not just limited to those attending BAES.

“Five-day food boxes will be available at all of the Upshur County Schools each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” Vincent said. “Food boxes will also be available for pickup curbside at the Upshur County Schools warehouse, located in Tennerton, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

Vincent said families should utilize the pickup of meals at the school which is closest to the home.

“If families have a student at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School and Rock Cave Elementary schools, and they live closest to Rock Cave Elementary School, they can pick up food for all of their children at the school located closest to them,” Vincent said. “Families who need to pick up from BAES do not have to have students at that school, but it is available for those who need a later pickup time during the day.”

On Monday, Superintendent of Upshur County Schools Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus spoke with My Buckhannon, along with Vincent, to remind students and their families about the five-day food box pickups which will be available during the remote learning period through Jan. 4, 2021. Vincent made the announcement of the additional time for pickup at BAES, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday morning.

Stankus and Vincent said the reason for the later hours is parents who work were requesting a later pickup time.

“If people are having issues, they need to let us know and we will see what we can do to accommodate them,” Stankus had said on Monday.

See My Buckhannon’s previous story about food pickup through Jan. 4, 2021 here.