Charlotte County schools drop free meal program, pantries brace for impact

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—Twelve Charlotte County schools will no longer offer free breakfast and lunch to all students next school year after losing federal eligibility.

The schools are coming off the Community Eligibility Provision, meaning free meals won't automatically be available to every student.

The district said families at these schools can still apply for free or reduced-price meals.

The change is expected to impact local food pantries. Kimberly Laurence, director of Wintergarden Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, said the shift will increase demand for school-ready food items.

"They're going to be needing school lunches, breakfast, some stuff that they can have so they have nutrition through the day, and the ones that don't make it are still going to need us, and we rarely get the stuff that we need for those kind of items," Laurence said.

Families can apply for meal assistance starting July 1. The district said it will keep providing snacks in after-school programs.