PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools is offering "grab-and-go" breakfast and lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every weekday while school is out.

 

"We are grateful to our Food Service team and Transportation Team for making this happen," Superintendent Jason "Jake" McCandless said in an email exchange.

 

McCandless said they have had between 220 and 300 or so users per day.

 

He believed that the system will "eclipse" 1,000 meals served on Thursday. The school system has 12 schools and more than 5,000 students enrolled.

 

The school system instituted the lunch program within days of deciding to close schools for two weeks in conjunction with school districts across the Berkshires because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. This past week the state ordered schools closed for an additional week with an anticipated reopening on April 6.

 

Additional community breakfast and lunches have been set up at Morningside Community School, Conte Community School, Dower Square Housing Village, the Berkshire Family YMCA, Gladys Brigham Center, Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires, and the Brattlebrook and Berkshire Peak apartment complexes.

 

"We are hoping to add one more on Monday as we identify areas of need," McCandless said.