COVID-19 has caused staff shortages to many businesses and organizations over the past 18 months, and it’s now impacting how schools will feed their students.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction this week released a statement about how school nutrition services will be affected by food and supply shortages due to the decline in the number of staff members.
“We look forward to providing all students free, appealing, nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch this school year,” the statement said. “School meals fuel students for learning throughout the day. Shortages of food and supplies along with significant staffing shortages are occurring nationwide.
“N.C. School Nutrition programs are responding by serving alternative food items or using last minute meal replacements. Due to this, menus may be subject to change without notice. We appreciate your patience and understanding.”
The effects are slowly trickling down to Whiteville City Schools, said School Nutrition Supervisor Patricia Slater.
“It hasn’t played a drastic role yet, but I have filled out a couple of waivers when I have run out of some foods. We are working on our menu week to week,” said Slater. “The school system is suffering more with supply shortages, but there have been many food substitutions and last-minute meal replacements as of late.”
Whiteville City Schools dish out about 1,400 breakfasts and 1,600 lunches every week. There is also an online menu on their website that gives parents the option to help choose foods for children who may have an allergy.
“We always do a diet order for children who have food allergies. The substitutions may change at the last minute so we are still honoring diet orders from last year,” commented Slater. She also says that school cafeteria workers are very diligent and familiar with which children require a special meal.
The supervisor says at this point what they need from the general public is patience and understanding.
She says the food may not be what the children are used to, and the substitutions are beyond their control. “Those babies love those peanut butter and jelly poppers so I hope that will not be one of those substitutions.”
Representatives from county schools were not immediately available for comment.
