School Lunch Debt Paid Off By Anonymous Donor

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Money can't buy happiness, but for this Orange County school district, it could clear a hefty balance in unpaid school lunch debt.

The unexpected financial gift cleared Ocean View School District's outstanding lunch bill of $7,813 as paid in full.

Thanks to the donation, 220 families no longer have to live with red in their ledger.

The donor, who wished to remain anonymous, told district staff, "he was fortunate enough not to have to worry about money as a child" and was happy to be able to "alleviate stress for other families."

The donor was inspired by a man in Florida who similarly helped children in his home community.

For Ocean View School District, there is nothing random about his act of kindness.

This donor appreciates never having to go hungry or worry about financial stress when he was a student. Worry can steal from a child's ability to learn, he said.

"I understand how critical the childhood years are for developing a love of learning and setting children up for success," he told the district.

Though schools and the district work with families to help reconcile negative school lunch balances, the generous donation by a community member who chose to stay out of the spotlight removed the need to have that, at times, uncomfortable conversation.
The donor just wanted the slate wiped clean, he said, even over something as simple as eating at school.

"Even though the world seems divided into an 'us vs. them' mentality, I wanted to show everyone that people do care and that we're all in this together," he said.

Paying it forward is just another way to show how much he appreciates the education he received. What's more, he wants others to look around their community and ask, "what can I do to make it better?"