Transylvania County Schools’ free meal program fills growing need after Helene, staff say
Wed, August 26, 2026 at 12:43 PM
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AUG. 26, 2026 – A cafeteria worker at Brevard Middle School gets meals ready for students. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) —School nutrition leaders for Transylvania County Schools said they have seen a growing need for free meals for students ever since Helene
Transylvania County Schools’ free meal program fills growing need after Helene, staff say. (WLOS)
Robin Ellis, nutrition manager at Brevard Middle School, said she has noticed more students arriving hungry. Especially for families struggling to put food on the table at home, she said more parents have expressed to her how much this meal assistance means to them
“Being here 30 years, I can see that it’s made a difference,” Ellis said. “Our numbers have gone up, for one thing.”
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Nutrition staff said the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision program is eliminating meal costs for families and helping schools meet what staff describe as a growing need
“We all know that it’s hard to make it right now, especially in this climate, so they (families) are struggling,” Ellis said. “This gives them that extra thing that they do not have to worry about.”
More than one million North Carolinians are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according tolatest enrollment data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Janette Broda, director of school nutrition services for Transylvania County Schools, said district cafeterias still offer a range of options, including salads, parfaits, sandwiches and hot entrees, despite meals coming at no cost to families
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“My guiding light is, I wouldn’t want to feed any other child what I wouldn’t want to feed my own,” Broda said
She said some fresh ingredients are even
“As a dietician, I know the importance of what we put in our bodies, and I know the importance of their energy and focus on the classroom,” Broda said
Before the district participated in the federal meal program, unpaid meal charges accumulated for some families, Broda said. Now, with those cost burdens taken off the table, she said this means less stress for staff, too
“We don’t have to process meal applications which allows us more time to focus on quality and the day-to-day operation of the meal program,” Broda said
She said the district is planning menu updates this year, including more combination bowls and higher-protein options. Staff also are preparing to conduct taste tests for some new items
