FAIRBURY - Schools across the country remain closed due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, but many area schools are still working hard to provide students with quality meals.

Fairbury Public Schools began its 'Summer Lunch Program' a couple months early Monday in lieu of the pandemic threat. After serving roughly 170 students Monday, FPS food service supervisor Jane Rhine says numbers really took off on Tuesday, with over 200 served.

"This is a really big deal," Rhine said. "There are so many families that are hit so hard with this COVID-19 stuff. Everybody that wants to take advantage of this, please please get your kids in here."

Tuesday's meal, which included chicken strips and broccoli cheese soup, proved to be a popular one. Two groups of roughly 10 staff members are serving meals at Central Elementary on 'F' Street and at the Jr./Sr. High School on 11th Street from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Students and families who drop by will get both a lunch and a breakfast for the next day.

All children, ages 0-18 in the Fairbury community, are served for free. In addition, FPS is also delivering meals to 'shut-ins,' or senior citizens, at a cost of $4 for lunch, $2.50 for breakfast or $6.50 for both meals.

"They call (the school) and when we drop it off, they can leave the money at the door, or they can hand us the money," Rhine said.

The Fairbury School Lunch Program has been granted approval to continue into the summer time. FPS has served school lunches to students in the community during the summer for the last several years.