Public schools make plans to feed kids May 16 when they're closed

Schools are making special plans to ensure kids who qualify for free and reduced lunch don't go hungry on May 16.

Posted 12:17 a.m. May 10, 2018 — Updated 11:19 a.m. May 15, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

Schools across North Carolina are closed on Wednesday, May 16, so teachers can attend a rally in Raleigh to seek better pay, school safety improvements and repairs to crumbling buildings.

And while some kids are cheering a day off of school, others know that it could mean a day going without food. More than half of North Carolina public school students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. But local schools are working to make sure kids don't go hungry when schools are closed next week.

Here's what we know so far about school meal options for public school students on May 16. We'll add more details as we hear from additional school systems.

Local groups offer child care on May 16

Wake County Public School System

Wake County Public School System will provide meals at 34 schools across the county on May 16. Meals will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students will be able to eat their meals in the school dining room. Meal options will include a turkey combo deli sandwich, or alternately a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a fruit cup, 100 percent fruit juice and milk.

WCPSS students may visit any of the 34 school sites for their meal. Check with your schools for information on access to the school dining room for that day. Here are the schools providing meals on May 16:

Aversboro Elementary
Baileywick Elementary
Barwell Road Elementary
Beaverdam Elementary
Brentwood Elementary
Bugg Elementary
Carver Elementary
Creech Road Elementary
Dilliard Elementary
East Garner Elementary
Forestville Elementary
Fox Road Elementary
Green Elementary
Hodge Road Elementary
Knightdale Elementary
Lake Myra Elementary
Lincoln Heights Elementary
Lockhart Elementary
Lynn Road Elementary
Millbrook Elementary
Poe Elementary
Powell Elementary
Reedy Creek Elementary
River Bend Middle
Rodgers Lane Elementary
Smith Elementary
Timber Drive Elementary
Vandora Springs Elementary
Wakelon Elementary
Walnut Creek Elementary
Wilburn Elementary
Wildwood Elementary
Yates Mill Elementary
Zebulon Elementary

Durham Public Schools

Durham Public Schools will be able to provide meal services on May 16 through an extension of its summer feeding program at the following 13 schools:

Bethesda Elementary
Club Blvd. Elementary
Eastway Elementary
Eno Valley Elementary
Githens Middle
Glenn Elementary
N. Harris Elementary
Hillandale Elementary
Lakewood Montessori Middle
Sandy Ridge Elementary
Shepard Middle
Southwest Elementary
Southern School of Energy and Sustainability

School Nutrition Services staff members will be on-site at these locations to prepare and serve meals in the cafeterias. All meals will be free to all students.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The menu is muffin, Nutri-Grain bar, fruit juice and milk. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The menu is turkey and cheese or ham and cheese sandwich, chips, fruit juice, fruit cup, baby carrots, Rice Krispie treat, and milk.

Nearly 21,000 Durham Public Schools students, about 63 percent of the entire student population, qualify for free or reduced meals each day. A community group also is raising money to provide kids with bag breakfasts and lunches on May 15 that they can take home with them.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

The district's child nutrition team will open three school cafeterias on May 16. Any student from birth through high school is welcome to come to the following schools, according to a press release.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and include a choice of cereal, string cheese, assorted juice and milk. Lunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include chicken nuggets, fresh baby carrots, bag of chips, apple and assorted juice and milk. There is no cost for these meals.

The locations are:

Carrboro Elementary, 400 Shelton St.
Northside Elementary, 350 Caldwell St.
McDougle Elementary, 890 Old Fayetteville Rd.

Five additional community sites also will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., May 16. Find these locations at:

Abbey Court/Collins Crossing (next to the pool), 501 Jones Ferry Rd.
Ridgefield (community center), 301 S. Estes Dr.
Dobbins Hill (playground/community center), 1749 Dobbins Dr.
Colony Woods West/Adelaide Walters/Jackie Robinson (small playground), 4 Adelaide Walters Ct.
Airport Gardens (playground), 815 MLK Junior Blvd.

Johnston County Public Schools

The following schools will be open for lunch:

Benson Elementary
Cooper Academy
Corinth-Holders Elementary
Glendale-Kenly Elementary
Four Oaks Elementary
Princeton Elementary
Selma Elementary

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on May 16 and will consist of a chicken sandwich, zucchini fire sticks, coleslaw, fruit and a milk. This meal will be free for students up to 18 years of age. Adults in attendance with their student will have the option to purchase a meal at a cost of $3.50.