Pender County Schools expand free breakfast and lunch to 15 qualifying schools

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — According to the press release, starting with the 2024-2025 school year, Pender County Schools (PCS) will implement the USDA federal grant program known as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at 15 qualifying schools. This initiative will provide students attending these schools with free healthy breakfast and lunch for the entire school year, effective Monday, Aug. 26.

The following schools have been identified to participate in CEP:

–          Cape Fear Elementary

–          C.F. Pope Elementary

–          Malpass Corner Elementary

–          North Topsail Elementary

–          Rocky Point Elementary

–          South Topsail Elementary

–          Surf City Elementary

–          Burgaw Middle

–          Cape Fear Middle

–          West Pender Middle

–          Penderlea School

–          Heide Trask High

–          Pender High

–          Pender Early College

–          Pender Innovative Learning Academy

Under CEP, all students attending these schools will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch for a period of four years, unless the eligibility status of a school changes. Parents of students enrolled in CEP schools will receive notification from PCS regarding their child’s enrollment in a qualifying school and their free meal eligibility.

For more information, contact the Pender County Schools Nutrition Office at 910-259-2187. Further details on the Community Eligibility Provision can be found on the USDA’s official website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/community-eligibility-provision