• By Lynne Mitchell
• Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Schools to Offer Free Meals this Summer

Children are especially vulnerable to issues of hunger and poverty. Nearly 14 million children in our nation are living in poverty and are at risk of hunger including 1 in 5 children in North Carolina (Source: US Census and Feeding America's Hunger in America 2010).

Chartwells School Dining Services, the company that serves breakfast and lunch to over 2.3 million school children each day, and Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools will offer free breakfast and lunch to students in the community during the summer months.

As part of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, WS/FCS and Chartwells will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students, up to 18 years of age, from June 20st through August 12th. Breakfast will be served from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Do you know people who would like the program? Print the English flier or Spanish flier and give it to them!

Both meals will be served Monday through Friday at 16 school locations, including Ashley Elementary, Atkins High, Easton Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Gibson Elementary, Griffith Elementary, Hall-Woodward Elementary, Hill Middle, Lowrance Middle, North Hills Elementary, Old Town Elementary, Paisley Middle, Philo Middle, South Fork Elementary, and Wiley Middle.

WS/FCS has a successful nutrition program during the school year offering healthy meals daily. Free breakfast and lunch during the summer is another step to ensure students are getting the quality nutrition they need, even if school isn’t in session. All students will be offered breakfast and lunch at no cost without any restrictions. Older students may be asked to verify their age with identification.

A variety of foods will be available, including whole-grain muffins, low-fat yogurt, healthy varieties of breakfast pizzas made with low-fat cheese and whole grains, tacos made with lean meat, fresh sandwiches, fruits and vegetables and 100 percent fruit juice and white low-fat milk.

If you have a question about locations or time schedules, please call the school system’s Child Nutrition Department weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. at (336) 771-4526.

“Healthy meals throughout the year are important for children and improve their academic performances. Anything we can do to create awareness about the role a good nutritious meal plays is important to WS/FCS and Chartwells,” said Darrell Walker, the assistant superintendent of operations for WS/FCS. “Many students are less fortunate and will not get the proper nutrition they need during the summer months. We are in a position to provide breakfast and lunch to students for free. Our goal is to partner with Chartwells and have students ready to learn when they return to school.”

For more information, please call the Office of Marketing and Communications at 727-2696.