Pre-pandemic, almost all 5,800 public-school students in Edgecombe County were eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. In the wake of the COVID-19 emergency, summer nutrition programs have become even more important due to the increased financial challenges faced by families.
Children often have relied on nutritious school meals as their primary source of food. Many families are left wondering how they will feed their children when school ends for the summer. This summer, one-fourth of ECPS students are enrolled in summer learning programs at schools, where daily breakfast and lunch are served, and weekend meals are sent home with students, all at no cost to families.
In the summer of 2020, Edgecombe County Schools and the Food Bank served nearly 430,000 meals to local children through the summer nutrition program, an astounding increase of seven times more meals served than in the previous summer. Benefits of the meals included more than $1.4 M in revenue to support jobs and purchasing local resources – in addition to the healthy, sustainable meal options that fuel learning and social, emotional, and physical health and well-being.
This summer, families can pick up meals for kids and teens at 40 sites across Edgecombe County. These meals are available at no cost to children 18 or under – no ID or registration required! Caregivers may pick up meals for the children. To find their closest meal site, families can:
- Text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877
- Visit North Carolina’s Summer Meal Site Finder at summermeals4nckids.org
In partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the Carolina Hunger Initiative (CHI) at the University of North Carolina is working with school districts and community partners across the state to increase awareness and access to healthy food options for our children.
About Carolina Hunger Initiative
Carolina Hunger Initiative is a new project of the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (UNC HPDP) focused on improving access to healthy meals year-round for North Carolinians. Its early launch in March 2020 has allowed the team to pursue innovative approaches to support our state’s food systems during the COVID-19 emergency. The Initiative is working with the NC Department of Public Instruction to connect school districts and community organizations providing meals for kids with resources to help expand nutrition access. The Carolina Hunger Initiative collaborates closely with No Kid Hungry North Carolina, a partnership between Share Our Strength and UNC HPDP.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) available online and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected].