A Georgia woman’s non-profit organization “All for Lunch” took over during the holiday season to ensure that families in metro Atlanta area schools did not end the year with an outstanding school lunch debt.
The Forsyth County-based organization paid about $130,000 to eliminate lunch debt at schools in Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Forsyth and Barrow counties in December alone.
Founder Alessandra Ferrera-Miller told Fox 5 Atlanta that the idea was formed in 2018 when she began paying off school lunch debt in the surrounding area. She started with four schools and donated $500 to alleviate overspent bills.
At the end of the “most impressive year” yet, Ferrera-Miller said this is just the beginning.
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According to the “All for Lunch” website, $147,198.06 in lunch debt was paid off at 302 Georgia schools during 2022.
“As we look to 2023, we are excited to continue our work in Georgia while expanding our reach to schools across the country to ensure that all children have access to lunch at school, so they can focus on learning, not on being hungry,” the website stated.
Ferrera-Miller said her goal is not just to provide a one-time payment to a school, but to ensure that the help she provides lasts because balances paid may not.
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In this Thursday, May 4, 2017 photo, a third grade student enters her student ID to pay for a meal at Gonzales Community School in Santa Fe, NM.
(AP Photo/Morgan Lee)
The organization’s mission is to ensure that all children have access to a hot meal at school, regardless of their financial situation at home.
Ferrera-Miller believes that not having enough money for a child’s lunch at school shouldn’t be a problem families face, but it is. According to “All for Lunch,” more than 75% of schools across the country are in debt for school lunch.
The Food Resource and Action Center reports that “a school lunch reduces food insecurity, improves children’s dietary intake and has a positive impact on their health.”
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Statistics on the website show that 133 schools are clear of school lunch debt and over $65,000 in lunches have been funded for those in need.
