Lunch debt at 56 schools has been wiped out.
It started out in September trying to raise $5,000, it ended up raising just a little bit more than that.
Ok we're understating it, the Philando Feeds The Children Fund has raised an incredible $106,000.
It was set up by diversity and ethics students at Metro State University in memory of the J.J. Hill Montessori cafeteria worker, who was shot dead by police in July 2016.
The initial intention was to raise $5,000 to pay off the lunch debt at J.J. Hill, knowing that Castile himself would regularly dip into his own pocket to ensure kids who had no money could still get their lunch.
But as the money rolled in, the fundraisers broadened their goal, attempting to feed all students in St. Paul.
And they did just that, FOX 9 reports that this week they presented a check of more than $106,000 to St. Paul schools that is enough to cover the lunch debt of all 56 public schools in St. Paul.
"That means that no parent of the 37,000 kids who eat meals at school need worry about how to pay that overdue debt," fundraisers wrote on YouCaring.
"Philando is STILL reaching into his pocket, and helping a kid out. One by one. With your help," it added. "Your donations will fill that pocket for years to come. Thank you for your generosity."
daryldom on March 3rd, 2018 at 18:33 UTC »
Wait what? "Child Lunch Debt" is a thing?.... That's horrifying.
Oznog99 on March 3rd, 2018 at 17:58 UTC »
The fact that "child lunch debt" is a thing in the USA at all makes me sad. No, wait, the other thing- ashamed.
We have minors in school that we already start into a debt hole. If they build up a debt, they take away the arguably substandard "normal" meal and substitute with, like, a free cheese sandwich "ration". It's not only nutritionally insufficient, it's publicly visible so it shames the kid right there in school. And it's not like these kids are expected to earn their own money, it's all about the parents being poor.
winespring on March 3rd, 2018 at 17:15 UTC »
This uplifting news made me very sad.