ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Over 900,000 North Carolina students receive meals and snacks served during the year through school breakfast, lunch and after-school programs.

What You Need To Know

  • The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded, state-administered program
  • Meals are provided at no cost for children ages 18 and younger
  • For information on the state’s meal sites, North Carolinians can text "FOOD" to 304-304 for information in English or “COMIDA” to 304-304 for information in Spanish

When the school doors close for the summer, the state’s Summer Nutrition Program returns.

“I’m used to seeing kids come in [at] kindergarten-level, and now they’re off leaving [for] bigger schools,” said Robin Caron, the manager of the Emma Elementary School cafeteria. “They’re all like ‘We’re gonna miss you! We’re gonna miss you!’ So I’ve formed a lot of relationships with these kids, so it’s hard to see them go, but it’s exciting too.”

Caron has been a part of the Summer Nutrition Program for a long time. She has worked as the manager of the cafeteria in the Buncombe County school for 17 years.

“It’s packaging food and delivering it to camps and stuff,” Caron said. “Also, to people that come by the school to bring their kids by to get a lunch, it’s a hot meal and a very complete meal.”

Caron added that it’s a good opportunity for those with a low income, adding that even she used the program at one point.

“I used to feed all five of my kids at summer feed. It was just so quick and easy and a whole complete meal they were gonna get,” Caron said.

Meals are provided at no cost for children ages 18 and younger. Caron’s team is preparing for a summer of meals as another school year wraps up.

“They’re getting ready to close down this Friday. It will be our last feeding day for students this school year,” Buncombe County School Nutrition Director Lisa Payne said. “And then next Tuesday, we’re already cleaning romaine lettuce and watermelon that will be served.” 

Payne shares the goal of making sure children are being fed, and she has seen the summer programs grow over the years. 

“I am passionate about children getting healthy, nutritious meals, and also helping our families alleviate a responsibility and a burden on them that they know they can send their kids to school to have breakfast and lunch with us is just amazing,” Payne said.

The Summer Nutrition Program is a federally funded, state-administered program. 

A map by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction highlights meal sites across North Carolina. As of June 1, The United States Department of Agriculture site finder has data on 35 states’ meal sites.

“It’s a very good opportunity for parents to take advantage of, come down and get their kids fed, because why not?” Caron said. “It’s one less thing they have to do, so it helps out a lot to have that lunch and breakfast!”

For more information on meal sites, North Carolinians can text “FOOD” to 304-304 for information in English or “COMIDA” to 304-304 for information in Spanish.