NCDPI seeks sponsors to help provide summer meals for children
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is calling on schools and community organizations to serve as sponsors for the state’s Summer Nutrition Programs in 2025, ensuring children with limited access to food receive nutritious meals and educational support.
The department emphasized a particular need for sponsors in rural areas, Indian Tribal Territories and regions with high concentrations of migrant farm workers, where access to summer meal sites or transportation has been a persistent challenge.
“Summer Nutrition Programs offer children not only nutritious meals but also educational enrichment critical for continued growth, development, learning and social emotional support when school is out,” Rachel Findley, NCDPI’s senior director of school nutrition and auxiliary services, said in a statement. “Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. School and community partners are key to helping make sure no child goes hungry during the summer.”
Last summer, NCDPI approved 175 on-site summer meal sponsors and 33 to-go summer meal sponsors. Through these partnerships, more than 4.2 million meals were served to children and teens statewide, according to the department.
Nearly one million North Carolina public school students rely on school meal programs during the academic year. The Summer Nutrition Programs help bridge the gap when school is not in session by providing free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger who might otherwise face food insecurity.
The state’s Summer Nutrition Programs, including SUN Meals and SUN Meals To-Go, are administered by NCDPI’s Office of School Nutrition with federal support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sponsors receive federal reimbursements for all qualifying meals and snacks served to children.
Sponsor applications are due by March 1. Given the multi-step application process, interested organizations are encouraged to plan ahead. Additional information is available on the NCDPI Summer Nutrition Program website.
