Education

When School Ends, Hunger Doesn’t: How Durham Communities Are Filling the Summer Gap

When school ends, thousands of Durham children lose a critical source of daily nutrition. With participation in summer meal programs low and barriers like transportation and awareness limiting access, families are left to fill the gap. Community programs are working to respond, but the break enables greater issues surrounding childhood hunger.

ICE activity sparks fear in North Carolina public schools: What community volunteers say should come next

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity increased across North Carolina, fear kept some families from leaving their homes and children from attending school. In response, schools implemented safety protocols to protect students, while community members mobilized quickly to organize transportation, food distribution, and protection teams. This story examines both those immediate efforts and what they reveal about gaps in existing systems, highlighting what community leaders say must come next.Through interviews with organizers, school officials, and advocates, it highlights growing calls for clearer statewide policies, stronger communication, and more proactive crisis planning to better protect students and families moving forward.Drawing on interviews with organizers, school officials, and advocates, it highlights calls for clearer statewide policies, stronger communication, and more proactive crisis planning to better protect students and families.