Free Fridays and premium meals are coming to a Burke County Public Schools cafeteria near you. The Child Nutrition Department, in partnership with Chartwells K12, will offer free lunch to all students on the last Friday of each month and is adding more premium entree options and special treats to the serving lines. The enhanced cafe experiences come courtesy of a Child Nutrition budget surplus; therefore, no extra costs will be passed on to the students.

In addition to meeting teachers and receiving school supply lists, Forest Hill Elementary School families received a bonus at the school’s open house: fresh produce to take home. Former Forest Hill student Jenner Wall and the nonprofit she runs – Community Kindness, Inc. – supplied the produce. Wall started the nonprofit almost two and a half years ago in the Charlotte area and wanted to return to her roots in Burke County.