TOLEDO, Ohio – A growing issue of outstanding school lunch debt is gaining attention in the Washington Local School District, where the total amount owed has reached a staggering $120,000. One local mother is stepping up to make a difference, launching a GoFundMe campaign aimed at wiping out the lunch debt at Silver Creek Elementary School.
Jenna Krusich, whose twin daughters attend the school, was taken aback when she learned the school’s lunch debt stood at $16,267.44. While the amount is significant, Krusich expressed admiration for the district’s policy of feeding students regardless of whether they can afford to pay for their meals.
“What I think is wonderful is that the reason there is debt is because the school feeds kids regardless of whether or not they have the money,” Krusich said. Her statement reflects the district’s commitment to ensuring that no child goes hungry, even if it means accumulating debt.
The district reports that nearly 62% of students in the Washington Local School District qualify for reduced or free lunches, a factor contributing to the growing outstanding balances. Despite the challenges of managing such debt, the district has maintained its policy of providing meals to students in need.
Moved by the situation and the struggles faced by many families, Krusich launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $16,000 to help pay off the debt at Silver Creek. So far, the campaign has raised more than $4,000.
“It’s important to me because I see these kids every day in the pick-up lines and at playdates, and their families are struggling,” Krusich said. “I wanted to do something to help them.”
Through this initiative, Krusich is also teaching her twin daughters an important lesson in kindness and generosity. “I want them to learn to give and to help when they can,” she shared.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Washington Local Schools expressed gratitude for the support from the community. “Washington Local Schools believes in providing meals to any child who is hungry, even if the consequence of that is a lunch debt that we carry. We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of our community, who consistently steps in to help our kids and schools,” the spokesperson said in a statement to 13 Action News.
As Krusich continues to raise funds for the school lunch debt, her campaign serves as a reminder of the power of community support and the impact of acts of kindness. With ongoing donations, the hope is to alleviate the financial burden and ensure that no child in the district goes without a meal.