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LINCOLNTON, N.C. - Thirteen Lincoln County Schools district sites will offer free lunch to all students for the 2023-2024 school year.  The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows schools in low-income communities to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students.  No application is required.  Free meals will start the first day of school and continue throughout the school year.

All Lincoln County Schools will continue to receive free breakfast every day throughout the school year.  Students who qualify for reduced lunch prices are eligible to receive free lunch.

CEP is a key provision of The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  In order for schools to be considered for participation in CEP, the population must meet USDA requirements.

Lincoln County Schools recommended the following schools participate in CEP for the 2023-2024 school year:

• Asbury Academy
• Battleground Elementary
• GE Massey Elementary
• Iron Station Elementary
• Lincolnton High School
• Lincolnton Middle School
• Love Memorial Elementary
• Norris S. Childers Elementary
• North Brook Elementary
• S. Ray Lowder Elementary
• Union Elementary
• West Lincoln High School
• West Lincoln Middle School

Shelly Rhyne, Chief of Child Nutrition Services, said, “The Community Eligibility Provision allows more children to experience the education and health benefits linked to eating school meals.   Therefore, we are beyond thrilled that we were able to qualify 13 of our schools for this provision for the coming school year.”

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