As the holidays approach and North Carolina food banks continue to recover from the recent federal shutdown, food banks across our state are feeling the strain. At our food bank in Wilmington, we see the best of our community – and notice the challenges. Here, neighbors look out for one another, volunteers give their time, and families make sure no child goes without. On the other hand, rising food costs, cuts to vital nutrition programs, and uncertainty around school meals are putting more pressure on families and on food banks like ours.
For many children, their most dependable daily meal comes at school. School breakfast and lunch aren’t just about calories; they provide the nutrition that helps children focus in class, build healthy habits, and grow strong. Teachers will be the first to tell you: a hungry child struggles to learn. Parents will tell you: knowing their kids will get breakfast and lunch at school is often the difference between staying afloat and falling behind.
When those meals aren’t available, during summer break, long weekends, or because families don’t qualify under current rules, families often turn to food banks for help. Since the school year began, North Carolina’s food banks have expanded school pantries, increased weekend backpack support, partnered with local farmers for additional produce, and boosted mobile food distributions — all to ensure families can reliably access nutritious food despite ongoing disruptions…