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Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries in Albemarle has teamed up with Carolina Defenders Youth Organization, Micah’s Sweet Escape and others to distribute meals to students next week.

The restaurant (750 Leonard Ave.) is helping to fill the one-week gap while Stanly County Schools employees, who have been feeding students each day for several weeks, take Spring Break time off.

The meals will consist of hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken cheese steak sliders and pizza along with Lance Crackers and chips.

Organizers said sites will include Albemarle Middle School from 1-2 p.m., Norwood Elementary from 12:15-1:15 p.m., Badin Elementary from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Stanfield Elementary from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Millingport Elementary from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and the E.E. Waddell Center from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday through Friday during Spring Break. There will be roughly 1,200 meals distributed each day.

Hwy 55 has raised $18,198 in its efforts to feed the students of Stanly as of Friday afternoon, which equates to more than 6,000 meals. Each meal costs $3.

In addition to the many individuals that have offered donations, several companies and businesses stepped up to help with the campaign. They include: North Albemarle Baptist Church (donated $1,150), Hartsell Funeral Home ($1,200), Joe Maus ($1,000), Michelin ($2,000), Jordan Lumber Company ($1,500), Garmon Mechanical ($1,000), Uwharrie Bank ($1,500), Stanly Funeral Home ($1,200) and Hudson Pool distributors ($1,000).

Carolina Pizza Huts Inc. is going to donate 150 large pizzas, which is 1,800 slices, April 15. All three Stanly locations will participate.

Kristen Lilly, who owns Micah’s Sweet Escape and helped donated more than $500, will help package meals and work the pickup sites.

“I thought it was a great project and I really wanted to get on board,” she said.

“It’s a community effort and it restores our faith in mankind,” added N.C. Rep. Wayne Sasser (R-Stanly), who donated $100. “It’s all about the heart.”

Superintendent Dr. Jeff James was appreciative of Hwy 55’s campaign to feed as many students as possible. He said he’s not heard of any other businesses or groups that were planning to feed the students next week.

“At times like these, it does truly take a village,” James said. “Leaning on each other only makes our county stronger for all of us.”

“We are Stanly strong,” he added.