South Carolina has officially passed a new law that expands access to free and reduced-price school meals and prohibits “meal-shaming” — ensuring students are no longer denied food, given alternative meals or excluded from school activities due to unpaid meal debt. The bill, recently signed by Governor Henry McMaster, codifies an existing one-year budget proviso into law. We testified in favor of this bill earlier this year, and we want to thank Shelina Flarisee, one of our Parent Advisory Council members, who shared her family's experience in this news segment. Read the full WLTX News19 story at bit.ly/43kjKp! (fb)

Part of our team recently helped serve dinner at Transitions Homeless Center in Columbia! 💙 Transitions is an amazing community organization that serves homeless adults in the Midlands. Through emergency housing, free meals 365 days a year, and other services, Transitions helps people find stability, income and permanent housing. Thank you for what you do and for allowing our team to serve alongside! Pictured staff from left to right: Nicole Foulks, Strengthening Families Program manager; Maya Scott, grants accounting associate; Aisha Lake, home visiting workforce coordinator; Mark Cameron, chief financial officer; and Charles Calhoun, grants development coordinator. (fb)