During a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Wake County school officials discussed potential impacts to universal free meal programs across the county.
Wake County is not alone, though; free school meal programs could change across North Carolina.
It stems from changes to SNAP eligibility after the passage of the federal spending bill that was signed into law on July 4.
The bill makes cuts to SNAP and creates new work requirements for someone to prove eligibility.
In North Carolina, more than 1.4 million people receive SNAP benefits. Roughly 80% of snap households include someone working.
According to data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, cuts to SNAP benefits could weaken the state's economy.
Amarri Mitchell says SNAP benefits and free meals at school saved her family growing up.
"Definitely breakfast, definitely lunch played a huge part in our childhoods," she said. "Having the option to have something hot, or something that you want to eat as a kid. My mom did not have to pack four lunches for us every single morning."
Currently, specific schools can give free breakfast and lunch to all students if at least 25% of the student body receives federal food assistance, such as SNAP.
During a meeting Tuesday afternoon, Wake County school officials say the cuts to SNAP could impact their ability to deliver universal free meals to students.
The concern in Wake County is that if less families receive benefits due to ineligibility, then fewer students would be identified as needing benefits from schools.
If less than 25% of a school's student body needs food assistance, then schools might have to collect eligibility forms, no longer offer universal free meals, and not be guaranteed federal reimbursement for meals.
School officials also suggest this would result in having to have more staff needed to process applications for food assistance through the schools.
"I can see the struggle in that. I could see children being hungry from that," said Mitchell.
The change in funding has placed a spotlight on state lawmakers.
"There's money sitting around that could be used for children who need food and their basic needs covered," said NC Rep. Zack Hawkins, of Durham.
Now, it may be up to state lawmakers to figure out how to pick up the costs that Washington may not cover anymore.
"We have to find millions of dollars to pick up those lost dollars," said NC Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, of Raleigh. "Also, just the benefit cost sharing changes because these used to be 100% federally funded. Now (...) we're going to lose anywhere from 440 million to $700 million."
Wake County schools have a few options on the table right now.
Schools might have to pay more out of pocket to keep meals free for all students, or they might have to stop offering universal free meals altogether and charge families for meals.
No changes have been made yet, all of this is being discussed now.
Stick with Eyewitness News as this continues to develop.