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Wake County schools expand free‑meal coverage to 40 schools; Angel Fund covers more than $100,000 in student meals
Summary
Child Nutrition Services Director Tiffany Lawrence told the Wake County education committee that the district expanded Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) coverage from 12 to 40 schools for 2024–25, raised breakfast participation by about 12% and that the Angel Fund has received over $100,000 to cover students’ unpaid meals.
Tiffany Lawrence, the new director of Child Nutrition Services for Wake County Public Schools, told the county education committee on March 24 that the district expanded Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) coverage from 12 to 40 schools for the 2024–25 school year and that the district’s Angel Fund has received more than $100,000 in donations since August.
Lawrence said Wake County Public Schools serves roughly 20,000 breakfasts and more than 50,000 lunches on a typical school day. The district reported a 12% increase in breakfast participation and a 2.3% increase in lunch participation so far this school year compared with the prior year; presenters attributed much of the breakfast increase to the CEP expansion.
The Angel Fund, Lawrence said, is a donation account school managers can draw from when a student lacks funds at the point of sale. Lawrence told commissioners the fund has covered nearly 4,000 breakfasts and about 15,000 lunches since August and has eased managers’ decisions about denying meals to students with unpaid balances.
Lawrence also described program innovations to increase participation and reflect student demographics: a second‑chance breakfast at Apex High and an International Week in April that will introduce culturally influenced menu items such as chicken tinga and chicken tikka masala. District staff said they conducted manager taste‑tests and will provide training to prepare the dishes authentically.
On operational questions, Lawrence said CEP site selection is based on direct‑certification counts (household participation in SNAP/TANF and similar programs) and that a multiplier applied under federal rules determines the reimbursement rate for CEP schools. She said North Carolina’s recent legislative change (an added state factor) helped some additional schools qualify this year.
Commissioners asked how the public can donate to the Angel Fund and requested the district share the donation link. Lawrence said she would distribute instructions and asked communications staff to amplify the fund via social media. Commissioners also asked about food‑waste and share‑table practices; Lawrence said the district uses “offer versus serve” to limit waste and is piloting share‑table/Total Zero Waste efforts at some sites.
Ending: Commissioners thanked Lawrence for the update and asked staff to circulate Angel Fund donation instructions and an International Week calendar so board members could visit and observe cafeteria events.
