b'NAVIGATING CHANGESack Lunches: Heather Bell, Clinch County School instructional coach Clinch County SchoolsA Mission to Feed Students W hen the end of the school year came two months early, schools across Georgia (and the nation) jumped into action to make sure their students didnt go hungry.More than a deviation in classroom instruction, Jason Bell, director of operations for Clinch County School System, knew the early school closing would be a hardship for many students and their families.We immediately thought about how to feed the students, says Bell. I sent an email asking for volunteers and received a great response. I didnt have to beg for helpeven had enough for a sub-list. In Clinch County, where more than 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced meals, an unexpected school closure means the majority of students have difficulty securing breakfast and lunch. From mid-March to the end of May, the Clinch County School System prepared and delivered 74,400 meals (combined breakfasts and lunches) to school-aged children. In compliance with the U.S. Department of Agricultures nutritional guidelines, the lunch portions included a serving of fruit, vegetable, protein, whole grain, and dairy. Through a generous donation from Robert Varnedoe, president of Lee Container in Clinch County, each student received up to three pints of fresh blueberries a week.Feeding Students: Chanita Prester, Clinch County School nutrition staffDelivery: Jason Bell, director of operations for Clinch County School System, and Butch Smith, bus driver18 SG MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020'