All students enrolled in Hoke County Schools can receive meals at no charge to them for the 2021-2022 school year, according to Hoke County Schools Child Nutrition.

The school system will receive reimbursement for the meals through the federally funded United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This is the third year in a row that all Hoke’s public schools will participate in CEP.

All enrolled students will be able to have breakfast and lunch at no charge. Because of the CEP program providing meals to all children regardless of family income, the school system will not distribute and accept free and reduced price meal applications for the 2021-2022 school year.

“Children must be healthy to learn and they must learn to be healthy. Hoke County Schools Child Nutrition Services is honored to be a part of the National School Breakfast, School Lunch and Afterschool Snack Programs. We are proud to offer our students the nutrition they need to succeed,” school officials said in a statement. “While adhering to the guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a variety of nutritious, delicious meals are offered to students each day for breakfast and lunch. Students cannot learn if they are hungry.”

The participating schools in the county – including all Hoke County public schools – are Don Steed Elementary, Hawk Eye Elementary, JW McLauchlin Elementary, Rockfish Hoke Elementary, Sandy Grove Elementary, Scurlock Elementary, West Hoke Elementary, Upchurch Elementary, East Hoke Middle, Sandy Grove Middle, West Hoke Middle, Hoke High, Turlington School, SandHoke Early College High School.

Anyone with questions can contact Deborah Davis Carpenter, Child Nutrition Executive Director at the Hoke County Board of Education, 310 Wooley Street in Raeford by calling (910) 875-4106.