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The yellow school buses driving through Cambridge on Monday won’t be bringing students to school; they’ll be delivering meals to students.

Cambridge Public Schools will distribute packaged breakfast and lunch meals to families at sites throughout the city starting Monday, according to Jim Maloney, the district’s chief operating officer. The schools are closed through March 27 as the city moves to limit the transmission of the Covid-19 virus in the community.

Families in need can pick up one set of meals per child (regardless of free/reduced school meal status). Caregivers are asked to come to any location at noon if their last name starts with A through M, and at 12:30 p.m. if their last name starts with N through Z.The district is exploring delivery to families who may have difficulty picking up meals due to a child’s disability or special circumstances.

The meals will be prepared by district food and nutrition staff in a single kitchen and delivered by school bus. Strict sanitation rules will be followed as meals are prepared and delivered, district officials said. Food for Free volunteers will set food out on tables and encourage social distancing to protect the community.

To volunteer with Food for Free and help with student meals, visit this site; to volunteer with the group on other projects, complete the Food for Free community response form.

Maloney notes that this is the first time that the district has distributed meals, and asks that the community be patient as food services and facilities personnel improve and expand this coronavirus-sparked initiative.