News Summary
Greenville County Schools will offer free lunch to students at 81 schools, addressing food insecurity in the community.
Greenville – In an effort to combat food insecurity, Greenville County Schools will provide free lunch to students at 81 schools during the 2025-2026 school year. This initiative is made possible through the Community Eligibility Provision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allowing all students to access free lunches without the need for individual eligibility applications.
In addition to providing free lunches, the district already offers free breakfast at every school, ensuring that students have access to nutritious meals throughout the day. The initiative to provide free lunches is a significant step in addressing hunger within the community, particularly given that approximately 60,850 people in Greenville County face food insecurity. Notably, two-thirds of these individuals are from single-parent households with children.
Statistics show that over 15,320 children, representing 12.7% of the youth population in Greenville County, lack reliable sources of food. This critical situation highlights the importance of the school’s initiatives, which aim to alleviate the pressures of hunger and ensure that children receive the nourishment they need to learn and grow.
The ongoing collaboration also includes participation in the Seamless Summer Food Service Program, which will begin on May 27 and provide free meals to children under the age of 18. This program will run until July 31, offering meals that must be consumed on-site at participating locations, with the exception of designated curbside pickup points.
Breakfast will be served at participating schools from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., followed by lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Among the elementary schools taking part in the summer meal program are Alexander, A.J. Whittenberg, Berea, Bryson, Buena Vista, Chandler Creek, Cherrydale, Ellen Woodside, Heritage, Lake Forest, Mauldin, Monarch, Monaview, Mountain View, Plain, Sara Collins, Summit Drive, Taylors, and T.E. Kerns. The middle schools involved include Beck, Berea, Bryson, Greer, Lakeview, Tanglewood, and Woodmont.
Additionally, the Roper Mountain Science Center will provide lunch from May 28 to July 26, operating Monday through Saturday. For families seeking convenience, curbside meal pickup will be available at Rudolph Gordon School, Slater Marietta Elementary, and Ellen Woodside Elementary on designated days. Parents and guardians collecting meals on behalf of their children must present appropriate identification, such as a student ID, report card, or birth certificate.
For qualifying children, bulk meals containing three to four days’ worth of food will also be offered. This substantial resource aims to ease food insecurity among families and provides a vital support system during the school year and over the summer months.
As the Greenville County community works to address the urgent issue of food insecurity, the school district’s initiatives mark a turning point in ensuring that students have sufficient access to nutritious meals. Through these programs, the county aims to support its most vulnerable populations, enabling children to thrive both academically and emotionally.
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Offer Free Lunch
- Wikipedia: Food Insecurity
- Greenville Online: Where to Get Free Food for Kids
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools Free Lunch
- WSPA: Greenville Schools Offering Free Meals
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Lunch
- WYFF4: SC Bill for Free and Reduced Lunches
- Google News: Greenville Free School Meals
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
