Pine Belt Pays Off Brick Student Meal Balances

BRICK, NJ — As the holidays near, for needy families, life becomes a nonstop juggling act financially. Trying to decide what bill will get paid and what will have to slide is a source of nonstop stress.

Pine Belt Enterprises in Lakewood decided recently to try to ease that stress a bit. On Thursday evening, the Brick Township Board of Education accepted a check for $2,500 from Pine Belt. The purpose: to pay off all outstanding cafeteria balances for students in the district.

"Some parents are worried about paying their child’s lunch charges and that is especially hard during the holiday season," said Acting Superintendent Dennis Filippone. "This act of kindness, allows students to start the New Year with a clean slate."

Filippone said Pine Belt contacted the district with the proposal, and their donation covers students from elementary school age through high school.

"They wanted to give back to the community," said Jeanine Richardson, the district's food service manager. All balances are paid through Dec. 14, she said.

A message left for Pine Belt Vice President Robert Sickel was not immediately returned.

Filippone called thanked Pine Belt at the board meeting.

"Our spirits have been lifted," he said.

A student uses a fingerprint scanner to pay for lunch. Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images