With North Carolina public schools closed until at least May 15, many children across the state are getting daily meals from school districts and community partners.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s website reports that all 115 of the state's public school districts, with the help of community partners such as food banks and other charitable organizations, have approved plans to serve meals to children throughout the state for the foreseeable future.
As of March 22, more than 1,165 schools had already served 1.2 million meals and 6,500 snacks, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“Many children rely on schools for their meals, so we have acted quickly to make sure our children have enough food each day,” said Cooper stated in the release. “This is the kind of collaboration, action and creativity we will continue to need across our state in the weeks ahead. Together, we will come through this stronger.”
School districts currently have flexibility on how to distribute food and have implemented a variety of methods for meal pick-up and delivery. All children under 18 who come to a school-sponsored site to receive meals will be fed, and across the state, many of the participating schools also are serving as nutrition hubs where families can pick up additional food.
The North Carolina COVID-19 Education and Nutrition Working Group, co-chaired by the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, has submitted multiple waivers to the US Department of Agriculture requesting that they maximize federal resources to provide food to children in North Carolina, as well as to provide child care for those who are feeding the hungry.
The New Hanover County Schools meal service program is currently serving over 4,000 meals daily to children 18 years and under at 14 school sites and one drive-through distribution location.
Lunch and the following morning’s breakfast are being provided for pick-up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following schools:
- Rachel Freeman School of Engineering
- Castle Hayne Elementary
- Wrightsboro Elementary
- Mary C. Williams Elementary
- Pine Valley Elementary
- Sunset Park Elementary
- D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy: UNCW
- Emma B. Trask Middle School
- College Park Elementary
- Annie H. Snipes Academy of Arts & Design
- New Hanover High School
- Edwin A. Alderman Elementary
- Winter Park Elementary
- Mary Washington Howe Pre-K Center
New Hanover County schools announced this week that all foodservice operations will continue throughout the scheduled spring break, April 6-13. Visit NHCS.net for details and program updates.
Volunteer organizations wanting to assist should go through the New Hanover Disaster Coalition at
[email protected].
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