Seattle Parent Wants To Pay Spokane's School Lunch Debt

SPOKANE, WA - As of this week, the unpaid school lunch debt in Spokane Public Schools is just over $1,500, according to the district. That debt is owed by students who haven't been able to pay for lunch at the cafeteria, and therefore have racked up debt. The issue of school lunch debt is being talked about more as reports surface from around the U.S. of students being forced to go without eating, or do chores, due to school lunch debt.

Jeffrey Lew, a parent of students in the Seattle School District, has decided to do something about school lunch debt: pay it off.

Last month, he raised over $21,000 to pay off school lunch debt for the entire Seattle district (and he even got help from singer John Legend). Lew's campaign was so successful in Seattle, he's decided to expand it across the state to Renton, Tacoma, and Spokane. Lew's goal is to raise $3,500 to pay off the debt in Spokane (and have some left over for future debts), and he's currently at about $1,900.

The district's policy on school lunch charges differs by grade. According to Doug Wordell, director of nutrition services for Spokane schools, the district allows elementary to charge up to two lunches, and after that students are given a meal replacement.

"Our school secretary's work very hard to communicate low balances and then when a meal is charged they send emails, letters and even call home to ensure that students still get meal of their choice," Wordell said. "It is the goal to work hard and ensure students get the mail of their choice."

Wordell added that the district would be willing to accept private donations to pay off the debt balance; he also said that the total balance would probably drop to about $500 by the end of the school year.

"After successfully raising enough money for the Seattle Public Schools district, I am trying to help ease the burden of the Spokane families and make sure these children get to eat a nutritious meal each day at school," Lew wrote on his fundraiser page. "I used to look forward to school lunches each day. I am sure these children feel the same!" (See Jeffrey Lew's GoFundMe fundraiser for Spokane Schools here.)

Image via Jeffrey Lew