Berryville, VA — The Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF) is proud to announce the creation of the Clarke County Nutrition Alliance (CCNA) Fund, a new purpose-restricted fund dedicated to supporting Clarke County Public Schools (CCPS) and the families they serve.
Under federal requirements, every CCPS student receives access to school meals regardless of family income, ensuring that no child goes without food during the school day. However, rising program costs, reductions in federal assistance, and increased community need have created financial pressures for families and for the division’s Food Services Program.
In recent years, Clarke County’s Composite Price Index (CPI) has shifted due to new residential development patterns, altering the division’s eligibility for certain nutrition-based supports. Combined with cuts to USDA programs, these factors have resulted in an increase in unpaid meal balances and restricted the flexibility schools once had to expand nutrition initiatives.
To address these challenges, a group of local citizens came together to form the Clarke County Nutrition Alliance, a volunteer-led effort focused on providing local, immediate, and sustainable support. Their solution: create a permanent, transparent, community-managed fund under the stewardship of the Clarke County Education Foundation.
The Clarke County Nutrition Alliance Fund, housed within CCEF’s 501(c)(3) charitable framework, will support:
• Families experiencing temporary financial hardship
• Assistance with resolving negative student meal balances
• Supplemental nutrition opportunities and wellness efforts across CCPS
“This initiative ensures that while every student continues to receive meals at school, families experiencing hardship are not left to shoulder the burden alone,” said Beth Williams, Executive Director of the Clarke County Education Foundation. “The Nutrition Alliance represents a thoughtful, long-term commitment by community members who care deeply about the health and dignity of our students.”
All donations to the Nutrition Alliance are tax-deductible and legally restricted to school nutrition support, ensuring transparency, accountability, and appropriate stewardship of every contribution.
While statewide and federal funding adjustments may take years to materialize, the Nutrition Alliance gives Clarke County the ability to respond now. It reinforces what the community has always believed: every child deserves nourishment, every family deserves support, and every school deserves the resources to help students thrive.
How to Support the Clarke County Nutrition Alliance Fund
By Mail:
CCEF
PO Box 1252
Berryville, VA 22611
Please include “Clarke County Nutrition Alliance” in the memo.
Online (one-time or recurring):
The Clarke County Nutrition Alliance (CCNA): A Community Commitment to Student Well-Being | CLARKE COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
About the Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF)
Founded in 1991 by Clarke County parents and community members, the Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening and enriching Clarke County Public Schools. Guided by a volunteer board of 14 members and a part-time executive director, CCEF has invested more than $3.8 million in student scholarships, teacher grants, innovation initiatives, and donor-directed support for educational programs.
Learn more at www.ccefinc.org