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FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. – Despite high overall enrollment in Forsyth County, several schools offering a free federal lunch program closed their doors to children on Wednesday.

Each summer, thousands of students across the state rely on free summer feeding programs for daily nutritious meals. And the overall turnout in Forsyth County is up this year.

"It is very much needed, especially as you look at the economic situation and the country. Parents are very much in need of additional services," said Essie Mckoy, principal at Hall Woodward Elementary.

But on Wednesday, Carter Vocational, Mineral Springs Middle, Kernersville and Walkertown elementary schools all closed their cafeteria doors to students for the summer.

School officials said only a handful of students were showing up to eat at those locations each day.

"This is the first time we've closed them midway through. I think in the past we've had numbers have been this low, but we tried to keep them going. But given the economy and everything else going on this year, it was just not feasible to keep those sights open this year," said Theo Helm, spokesperson for the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School System.

Helms said lower population density and a lack of transportation may be to blame for the low turnout. But either way, students who relied on those schools for food will now have to find another place to eat.

Mckoy said school officials hate to see it happen, but they will have a full tray ready for any new child that comes their way.

"We welcome anyone to come into our school at any time because that's what we're here for, to provide a service for the kids and for the community," said Mckoy.

All Forsyth County schools have suspended the summer feeding program for the July 4 holiday. The remaining locations will re-open to serve free breakfast and lunch first thing Monday morning.