Butler Area School District announced it will provide children free meals while schools are closed.

Scheduled to begin Tuesday, the moves comes after all Pennsylvania public schools were ordered closed for two weeks due to novel coronavirus 2019.

“The meals are for any child, whether they attend Butler Area or not,” district Superintendant Brian White said Sunday.

The state approved the district to continue food service for students during the closure, he said. That news was included in a statement from White.

Parents or guardians of children under the age of 18 seeking the grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches are encouraged — but not required — to register by accessing the meal order form on the district's website, www.basdk12.org/news/568#sthash.v5Eh5iau.xKDOLrUv.dpbs.

Meals, however, also will be provided to all “walk-ups,” White said. At that time, district officials will collect all pertinent information from recipients.

As of Sunday afternoon, White said, 460 children were signed up for the free meals.

The district's food service department will provide both meals for daily pickup between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at both Center Avenue Community School, located at 102 Lincoln Ave., or Emily Brittain Community Partnership and Demonstration School, located at 338 N. Washington St.

Also at the sites will be medical technicians — district employers who assist school nurses — to provide information about COVID-19 and to ensure “social distancing” is maintained.

If needed, meal delivery will also be available for those families living within the school district, according to White. The district's 23 school police officers will deliver meals in district vans. White noted school transportation officials will create the delivery routes Monday in advance of the program starting on Tuesday.

“We know our kids need us,” White said, “and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that they are not hungry during this school closure.”

Additionally, he said, the district will continue the Kids' Weekend Backpack Program as of this Friday.

Kim Thomas, a teacher at McQuistion Elementary School, founded the program is 2016. The effort sends about 360 elementary school students home with a backpack full of food every Friday throughout the school year.

School police will also be delivering the backpacks to the homes of those students previously signed up for the program.

It was not immediately known how many other districts in Butler County will be offering meals while schools are closed.

On the South Butler County School District website, Superintendent David Foley noted in a statement that the district “will be collaborating with the Nutrition Group to get meals to students in need. More information will follow by the end of the day on Monday.”