GoFundMe Sets To Erase All Lacey School Lunch Debt

LACEY, NJ — A local fundraiser has set out to erase school lunch debt for all Lacey Township School District students. The GoFundMe is attempting to raise $8,800 to erase the district's lunch-balance deficit.

GoFundMe organizers Carrie Hammer and Lena Skates are administrators of the Lacey Township Chatter Facebook group. School lunch debt has been a topic of discussion in the group.

District students who owe more than $25 receive an alternate meal of a cheese sandwich and a milk or juice. Students with food allergies receive modifications such as rolled cheese and meat or a meat alternative. See the policy here.

A picture of the cheese sandwich was posted in January on the Chatter.

Lacey Education Foundation Chair Bruce Halliday read a note on the fundraiser organizers' behalf at Monday's school board meeting.

"They’re hoping to remove the shame and stigma that is associated with the debt, which is currently in the 8-or-9 thousand dollar range," Halliday said.

The fundraiser will last through Jan. 5, and they hope to present Director of Food Services Crystal DeCaro with a check by the end of that week, Halliday said. The GoFundMe has raised $3,208 as of Friday morning.

The conversation around school lunch debt has reached national discourse in recent months. The Cherry Hill Public School District's policy received nationwide attention, sparking responses from Governor Phil Murphy and presidential candidates such as Senators Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Cherry Hill students were denied lunch after accruing more than $20 in debt, although the policy was never enforced. The new policy, approved in October, allowes students who owe $10 or more to eat a la carte items. Read more: National Backlash For Cherry Hill's Revised School Lunch Policy

Click here to see the Lacey fundraiser.

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