CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Tenn. — Claiborne County Schools will once again offer free breakfast and lunch to students for the 2024-25 school year.
The free meals program was created to make sure all students can have a nutritious meal, regardless of their family's financial status. Elementary and middle schoolers will receive free meals for breakfast and lunch.
"We are blessed to be able to offer free breakfast and lunch for our students to help them succeed in school,” said Melany Bunch, Claiborne County's school nutrition supervisor.
With this initiative, the school district said it hopes it will allow students to focus on their studies without worrying about where their next meal will come from.
“School lunch is important to the health of our students and their well-being. It ensures that students have the nutrition they need to learn and thrive throughout the day," Claiborne County Schools Director Meredith Arnold said. "I am pleased that we are able to provide this to our children."
A recent report by the Second Harvest Food Bank showed more people are struggling to keep food on the table in East Tennessee. Leaders told 10News they have seen a 26% year-over-year increase, citing inflation as the biggest reason.
According to the most recent Map the Meal Gap data, more than 202,560 East Tennesseans are food insecure. That statistic includes 44,860 children.
