As Cumberland County Schools students headed into winter break, the district’s Child Nutrition Services team worked to ensure families had access to food while schools were closed.
In total, 530 holiday meal boxes were distributed to students and families in December through a public drive-thru event and targeted deliveries coordinated by school social workers.
The effort was carried out through The Sunshine Project, an employee-led initiative within Child Nutrition Services that raises funds to provide food to students during extended school breaks.
“Our employees association raised money to purchase the food, pack the boxes and partner with school social workers to identify students who were food insecure,” said Beth Maynard, executive director of Child Nutrition Services for Cumberland County Schools. “That’s how the Sunshine Project began.”
The initiative originally focused on spring break but expanded in 2025 to include winter break as more families faced challenges accessing food.
“Given the state of the economy and funding cuts to food banks, the association decided to expand the program and offer support during winter break as well,” Maynard said.
The expansion comes as food banks and pantries across North Carolina report increasing demand for emergency food assistance, placing additional pressure on families during extended school breaks.
Of the 530 boxes distributed, 390 were handed out during a drive-thru event on December 13 at the district’s Operations Center on Gillespie Street. The remaining 140 boxes were delivered by school social workers in the days leading up to winter break to students identified as needing additional support.
“After the drive-thru, we worked with school social workers to make sure the remaining boxes were delivered directly to children who needed them,” Maynard said.
Families who participated in the drive-thru were required to have a Cumberland County Schools student present and received one box per vehicle. The boxes included a full holiday-style meal.
“For winter break, they raised enough money to provide whole chickens, dressing, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls and canned vegetables,” Maynard said.
Funding for the Sunshine Project’s winter break distribution came from a variety of sources, including the Cumberland Community Foundation, Sandhills Oral Surgery, and other community and faith-based donors.
Why Providing Meals Outside School Day Is Challenging
While the Sunshine Project’s meal boxes are funded separately through donations and grants, Maynard said the district’s experience with federally supported meal programs helps explain why providing food outside the regular school day can be difficult.
Separately from the Sunshine Project, the county school system participates in federally supported school meal programs that operate under U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines.
Districts that receive federal meal reimbursement through those programs must follow USDA rules and are subject to regular reviews to ensure compliance with federal standards.
Maynard said those requirements can limit how meals are served outside of school hours, particularly because federally supported meals are often required to be eaten at the distribution site.
“In order for the USDA to sponsor our meals, we have to follow their guidelines,” Maynard said. “That means making sure the meals are served in a way that ensures the children are the ones eating them.”
To help address access challenges, Maynard said the district has worked in recent years to bring meals closer to where children already gather, including parks, recreation centers and other community spaces.
“Access is the biggest challenge,” Maynard said. “Transportation and work schedules play a role, so we work hard at trying to find those access points.”
One location she highlighted was Spring Lake Library, where Child Nutrition Services used a retrofitted bus to serve meals.
“We actually took the seats out of the bus and built countertops inside,” Maynard said. “The bus is air-conditioned, and the children can get on, sit, and eat.”
She said the setup allows the district to serve about 60 children at a time, either on the bus or nearby, making it easier for students in the area to access meals.
“We work hard at trying to find those access points where we can reach the most kids,” Maynard said. Despite the logistical hurdles, Maynard said the work remains deeply rewarding.
“When we pull up to a location and see the look on the children’s faces—the excitement, the way they line up—that’s what makes it all worth it,” she said. “Knowing they’re able to eat and not worry about being hungry, that really stays with you.”
To contact education reporter Dasia Williams, email dwilliams@cityviewnc.com.