NORTH CAROLINA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making sure children affected by Hurricane Florence aren’t going hungry.

  • The USDA is providing free school meals to all children affected by Florence through Oct. 26.
  • This has the potential to impact more than 284,000 kids.
  • The USDA has also allowed the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC to operate "summer meal programs" during unanticipated school closures at least through Sept. 30. 

The department has announced it will make sure all students in affected disaster areas in North Carolina will now be able to enjoy free school meals provided by USDA’s National School Lunch Program through Oct. 26.

This has the potential to impact up to 31 school districts and over 284,000 children.

“During a storm like this, the state may face transportation challenges, or need to divert food inventories to other disaster response efforts. We are providing this flexibility to help schools provide wholesome meals to students using the foods they have available,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Furthermore, to streamline program, schools and facilities in the disaster areas can temporarily serve meals that vary from menu planning or meal pattern requirements through Oc. 19.

The USDA has also allowed the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to operate summer meal programs during school closures, which will allow children to take meals home through Sept. 30.

For more information on FNS assistance during times of disaster, visit www.fns.usda.gov/disaster.

 

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