Waltham Family Seeks to End School Lunch Debt

WALTHAM, MA – For one local family, ensuring every student in Waltham can afford to eat lunch at school is a top priority. Historical Commission Chair Clarence Richardson and his wife, Anna, started the "Food for Thought" fundraiser this month to help pay off overdue lunch accounts for children in the Waltham Public Schools.

"Even with the reduced lunch program, many families still struggle and they need your help," Clarence and Anna write on their GoFundMe page. "These are people working incredibly hard, sometimes at multiple jobs, who may earn just enough to not qualify for free food, but are still struggling. We want to help them too."

So far, the campaign has raised $3,238 of its $5,000 goal. Priority will be given to accounts for families who qualify for reduced lunches but are still struggling to afford them, or didn’t know they qualified for free or reduced lunch until they already had a bill they could not afford to pay.

Clarence and Anna will match the first $300 of donations, and WPS will receive the donation as one gift. A full list of donors and amounts will be given to WPS as well.

To contribute, donate to the GoFundMe page or send a check payable to Clarence Richardson with Food for Thought Waltham in the memo to 45 Bright Street, Waltham, MA 02453.

Image via GoFundMe