BCPS Summer Meals program serving free lunch this summer

Morganton, NC – Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Burke County Public Schools and Chartwells K12 will offer free lunch to children in the community all summer long. Families can choose one of multiple options including daily cafeteria lunches, weekly meal bundles and, later this summer, daily lunch from the M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck.

Starting Monday, June 9, the BCPS Summer Meals program will serve lunch Monday through Thursday each week at the Valdese Elementary School cafeteria and the Mountain View Elementary School cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entree options include toasty cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza and more. Lunch must be eaten in the cafeteria and food is not available for takeout. Valdese Elementary School is located at 298 Praley St. NW in Valdese. Mountain View Elementary School is located at 805 Bouchelle St. in Morganton.

Starting Thursday, June 12, parents or guardians can pick up a meal bundle containing five breakfasts and five lunches for each child in the household, 18 and under. Pickups will be each Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Icard Elementary School, located at 3087 Icard School Rd in Connelly Springs, and Oak Hill Elementary School, located at 2363 NC Hwy 181 in Morganton.

Later this summer, the M.E.A.L. Mobile, BCPS’s food truck, will be out in the community serving free lunches Monday through Thursday starting July 7. Stops include Valdese Family Splash Park and Martha’s Park. More information is to come regarding specific times for each stop. 

Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan said, “This summer, we’re proud to offer more flexible meal options that meet families where they are and hopefully relieve some stress for our families trying to figure when, what and how to feed kids over the summer. Providing free, nutritious meals during the summer helps us support our students beyond the classroom, helps with food insecurity, eases the burden on families and keeps us connected to our students year-round.”

The BCPS Summer Meals program will operate through Thursday, Aug. 14. All locations are closed the week of June 30 through July 4 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. Any child 18 years and under can get a free lunch at one of the locations. Children do not have to attend BCPS to receive a free meal.

For more information on the BCPS Summer Meals program, please contact Burke County Public Schools Child Nutrition Department at 828-439-4318.