What was your favorite school lunch? ECSD students share their opinions on the OPEN AI grant for free breakfast and lunch

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County students are receiving free breakfast and lunch this school year through a $4.8 million grant from OpenAI, according to the district.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, all 14,148 students in the Effingham County School District — from pre-K through 12th grade — began receiving free breakfast and lunch for the entirety of the 2026-2027 school year.

Grant details

The $4.8 million grant is funded by OpenAI’s $80 million Community Fund under “Project Camellia,” an initiative designed to provide direct economic support to local families in communities where the technology company operates.

While more than 7,000 students in the district already qualified for state-funded free or reduced lunch, the grant expands the benefit to cover every student in the district.

Students react to free meals

Jordan Dillon, a senior at Effingham County High School, said he learned about the free meals from a classmate.

“I heard it from a classmate. I was like woah we get a free lunch. I was like oh, I just went out to lunch and was like is lunch free? I was like oh that’s great now I don’t have to pack lunch,” Dillon said.

Caleb Hilton, a sophomore at South Effingham High School, said he used to bring lunch from home.

“Before the school year, I would bring home lunch pretty much every day just because there’s no real point of having to add money to my school account if I can just bring it from the house,” Hilton said.

Hilton said he has used the school lunch more this year.

Both Dillon and Hilton said pizza is their favorite meal option.

No decision yet on next year

School officials said OpenAI’s funding is only committed for the current school year, and there is no confirmation yet on whether the program will continue next year.

A representative from OpenAI said feedback from the community is needed to help guide future funding decisions. Residents can share feedback at projectcamellia.com/community-investment.

Statement from OpenAI

OpenAI provided the following statement:

“The current grant covers this school year. From day one, we’ve said the community would help shape how we invest our $80 million community fund. Conversations with residents, local leaders and the school district identified school meals as an immediate need we could act on while continuing to gather input on other priorities.

“That engagement is ongoing through door-to-door conversations (we’ve knocked on over 1000 doors in the communities near the project), calls and emails to our project team and our community investment feedback page where residents can vote for future grants. We also have a page for local nonprofits and community organizations to share the needs they’re seeing and opportunities for support.

“If residents want to see the school meals program continue, we want to hear that through those channels or by emailing outreachteam@projectcamellia.com. Community input helped bring this grant about, and it will guide future funding decisions, including consideration of continued support for school meals.”

Residents can share feedback at projectcamellia.com/community-investment.