Celebrating School Lunch Hero Day on May 1, 2026
SANFORD, NC – Between preparing delicious food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, Lee County Schools nutrition professionals have a lot on their plate. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, the district will celebrate School Lunch Hero Day on May 1. This day, celebrated annually since 2013, was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series.
School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to nearly 30 million of America’s students each school day.
“Our school nutrition professionals are the heartbeat of our campuses. On School Lunch Hero Day, we honor their dedication, their compassion, and the countless unseen moments that ensure every student is fed, supported, and ready to learn. ” said Amanda Cagle, LCS Director for Child Nutrition.
Federal nutrition standards ensure that school cafeterias always offer low-fat or fat-free milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. School meals also meet limits on calories, sodium and unhealthy fats. The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day.
With just 76 employees covering the 17 LCS campuses, child nutrition professionals in Lee County Schools have served more than 1.2 million meals in the first 150 days of the school year.
Get the details about School Lunch Hero Day at www.schoollunchheroday.com. To learn more about the school nutrition program for Lee County Schools, visit the Child Nutrition Department page on the district website, www.lee.k12.nc.us.
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about today’s school meals, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/SchoolMeals.