WHAT’S NEW
FIND FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Text FOOD to 304-304 to find the sites nearest you with free meals for kids and teens. Learn more.
NC SCHOOL MEALS PROFILES: These profiles provide a snapshot of the successes and opportunities in the school breakfast and lunch programs for your local school district. They’re newly updated for 2023. See them here.
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL NC: We are working to secure funding for school meals for all so that every child in every public school in North Carolina has access to breakfast and lunch at no cost to their families. Want to join us in this important work? Sign up to join monthly coalition meetings or to stay updated on our School Meals for All NC Campaign.
FREE, ONLINE COOKING CLASSES: A new Cooking Matters series has been announced for Summer 2023! This series takes place Tuesdays at 6:30pm (ET). Learn more and register.
ABOUT CAROLINA HUNGER INITIATIVE
Based at the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (UNC HPDP), the Carolina Hunger Initiative partners with school systems, state agencies, community organizations, local businesses, and more to expand access to healthy meals year-round for North Carolinians.
We use programming, applied research, and compelling communications to support policy, systems, and environmental changes to more readily connect people with the food they need.Carolina Hunger Initiative welcomes and embraces ideas for the tough challenges we face now and tomorrow. Our goal is to incubate sustainable solutions for expanding equitable food access.
Learn more about our team, our work, and the latest news, or contact us.
OUR PARTNERS
Carolina Hunger Initiative is a project at the University of North Carolina working in collaboration with No Kid Hungry North Carolina, part of Share Our Strength’s national No Kid Hungry Campaign.
Find resources and communications from our vital state partner, the NC Department of Public Instruction Office of School Nutrition.
OUR WORK
COVID-19 Response
After Governor Roy Cooper announced NC schools would close due to the COVID-19 emergency, our team launched tools to provide resources for meal providers and to inform families in need where free, healthy meals for kids would be available.
Learn more
Child Nutrition Team at UNC HPDP
Working with school districts and community partners across the state, our goal is to end childhood hunger by increasing access to healthy food options served through the underutilized federally-assisted nutrition programs for kids.
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Blue Cross NC Child Hunger Impact Project
This three-year funding partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is awarding grants statewide to schools and community organizations that provide critical meals for kids who need them at breakfast, after school, and in the summer.
Learn more