ECU Health, in partnership with Food Lion Feeds, Sodexo, and the ECU Health Foundation, is launching the Summer Meal Program to provide free meals for children, teenagers, and people with disabilities. The meals will be distributed in Greenville, Bethel, and Ahoskie, targeting areas based on need, existing partnerships, and the social vulnerability index.
During the school year, many children receive free or reduced-price meals. When summer begins, these meals are no longer available, forcing families to choose between buying food and paying for other necessities like utilities or medical care. In North Carolina, over 57% of students receive free or reduced lunch. This number is even higher in Pitt County at 66%, and in Hertford County, it exceeds 90%.
Meals will be available at the following locations until the daily supply runs out:
Greenville: English Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday from June 10 to August 23. Closed July 22-26.
Ahoskie: Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday from June 10 to August 23. Closed July 4.
Bethel: Bethel Youth Activity Center, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Thursday from June 17 to July 17. Closed July 3-7.
Since 2021, ECU Health’s Summer Meal Program has provided nearly 12,000 free meals to children and teens during the summer. In 2023 alone, 51 ECU Health team members served more than 2,800 meals to those in need.
