Rowan-Salisbury School System's Nutrition Services plays a pivotal role in ensuring that students receive safe, nutritious meals both during the school year and over the summer. Their commitment extends beyond merely providing meals; they strive to deliver high-quality, healthful food and service to support the overall well-being and academic success of students, staff, and the wider community.

During the school year, they manage the school meal programs, ensuring that students have access to balanced meals that meet nutritional guidelines. Additionally, they might offer various initiatives or educational programs to promote healthy eating habits among students.

One of their notable initiatives is the summer meals program, where they utilize a bus to reach different communities across the county to deliver breakfast and lunch to children. This initiative helps ensure that children who rely on school meals during the academic year still have access to nutritious food during the summer months when school is out of session. By extending their services beyond the confines of the school campus, they demonstrate a dedication to the health and well-being of the entire community, particularly its youth.

Rowan-Salisbury School System's Nutrition Services primarily serves students within the school district. During the school year, their focus is on providing nutritious meals to students attending schools within the district. They cater to students of all ages, from elementary school to high school.

In addition to serving students, their services may also extend to school staff and faculty, ensuring that they have access to healthy meal options during the school day.

During the summer meals program, they serve children in various communities across the county. This program is often designed to reach children who may face food insecurity or who rely on school meals during the academic year. By using a bus to deliver meals to different locations, they ensure that children from diverse backgrounds have access to nutritious breakfasts and lunches even when school is not in session.

Rowan-Salisbury School System's Nutrition Services has a significant impact on various aspects of the community:

1. Health and Nutrition: By providing safe, quality, and healthful food, they contribute to the overall health and well-being of students, staff, and community members. Access to nutritious meals supports physical health, cognitive development, and academic performance.

2. Academic Success: Proper nutrition is closely linked to academic success. By ensuring that students have access to nutritious meals during the school day and through initiatives like the summer meals program, Nutrition Services supports students' ability to concentrate, learn, and succeed in their academic endeavors.

3. Food Security: For many students, the meals they receive at school may be their most reliable source of nutritious food. The summer meals program helps bridge the gap during school breaks, ensuring that children who may face food insecurity still have access to meals outside of the academic year.

4. Community Engagement: Through initiatives like the summer meals program, Nutrition Services engages with the wider community beyond the school campus. By delivering meals directly to neighborhoods and communities, they foster a sense of community involvement and support.

5. Education and Awareness: Nutrition Services may also provide educational resources and programs aimed at promoting healthy eating habits and nutritional awareness among students, staff, and families. These efforts help empower individuals to make informed choices about their diet and overall health.

Overall, Rowan-Salisbury School System's Nutrition Services plays a vital role in promoting the health, well-being, and academic success of students and the broader community they serve.

Refinement of the CHIP was done throughout 2022 and 2023. Rowan Salisbury School System- Nutrition Services program and performance measure were added the the CHIP in 2024, therefore we have no progress to report in 2022 or 2023.

The Rowan-Salisbury Schools Summer Meals Program continued to play a vital role in addressing child hunger during the summer months when school was out of session. In June 2024, the beloved "Yum Yum" Bus operated for 18 days, followed by another 18 days in July, providing meals to children across Rowan County. Over the course of those 36 days, the program served more than 70,000 meals to local children. While this was a decrease compared to the number of meals served in 2023, this decline may be partially attributed to the introduction of the NC SunBucks program, which provided families with additional funds to purchase groceries over the summer. Despite the slight decrease, the Summer Meals Program remains a critical resource for ensuring Rowan County children have access to nutritious food when school is not in session.