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ORANGE COUNTY <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: Board of County Commissioners <br /> FROM: Jonathon Smith, Cooperative Extension Director and Food Security Agent <br /> DATE: January 5, 2026 <br /> SUBJECT: Update on Orange County School Food Share Pilot Project <br /> In April 2025,the Orange County Food Security Agent with NC Cooperative Extension and <br /> representatives of Orange County Solid Waste and Orange County Sustainability Programs first met to <br /> begin discussing the feasibility of partnering with the County school districts to launch a food waste <br /> diversion and re-service pilot project during the academic year to help increase food security among the <br /> K-12 student population, allowing students to access more food during the school day from readily <br /> available surplus at the conclusion of regular cafeteria meals. <br /> Working with school system nutrition directors Sara Pitts (OCS) and Leslie Simmonds (CHCCS),five <br /> schools have been identified as pilot locations for the project. Those schools are Carrboro Elementary, <br /> New Hope Elementary, Grady Brown Elementary, A.L.Stanback Middle School, and McDougle <br /> Elementary School. Each school received supplies and equipment in December and will be launching <br /> their pilot projects in January 2026. The project team has one additional kit they are still trying to match <br /> with an interested school. <br /> Goals for the Food Share Pilot Program: <br /> • Establish a food recovery program that re-services some foods not consumed by children in <br /> school cafeterias by offering food collected at other times during the school day, by making <br /> available at a centralized location, and/or distributed in other ways to help ensure less food is <br /> wasted and no child goes hungry during the school day. <br /> • Increase student involvement on a regular basis by addressing food insecurity in local schools. <br /> • Reduce the amount of healthy, nutritious food that is wasted by being thrown away at the end <br /> of the lunch period. <br /> • Potentially save the schools money that would typically be spent on snacks. <br /> What the Orange County Food Security Program has provided to each school <br /> • Orange County Solid Waste will continue to provide compost carts and informational materials <br /> on what can and should be composted. <br /> • Orange County Cooperative Extension's Food Security Program will provide a rolling collection <br /> cart with bins, a small refrigerator with clear door to store collected items that need cooling, a <br /> thermometer for the refrigerator, a rolling pantry cart with bins to assist in distribution, a <br /> baskets for dry packaged foods/fruits/condiments, and signage. <br /> 300 W.Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 1 www.orangecountync.gov 1 919.245.2057 <br />