Seattle Dad Raises $40,000 To Stop Public Schools From Lunch Shaming Poor Kids
June 1, 2017
A Seattle man who was disturbed by "school lunch shaming" has raised more than $43,000 in a crowdfunding campaign aimed at erasing lunch debt in his kid's school district.
Meet Jeffrey Lew.
Jeffrey Lew / via Twitter
Lew was inspired to act after he read a news article about local schools "where students who don't have enough money to pay for lunch are denied food, singled-out with stamps or wrist bands, or are given an alternate meal."
Lew launched a GoFundMe campaign that has so far raised more than $43,000 to pay off existing lunch debts so that students don't have to feel humiliated if they can't afford to pay for lunch.
At Lew's son's school, the lunch debt was $97.10, he said. For the entire Seattle Public Schools district, the total lunch debt was $20,000.
"As a parent and graduate of the Seattle Public Schools, I am trying to help ease the burden of these families and make sure these children get to eat a nutritious meal each day at school," Lew wrote on his fundraising website. "I used to look forward to school lunches each day. I am sure these children feel the same!"
Among notable donors to the campaign were the Safeway Foundation and singer-songwriter John Legend.
My pleasure! We should have free lunch for all of our public students!
— John Legend (@johnlegend) May 29, 2017
Lew added that if the campaign continues experiencing the support it has received, he would consider expanding it to cover the debt in other Washington State school districts.
"It would be amazing if we could get the whole state of Washington paid off," Lew said.
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Teacher Gets Hilariously Embarrassed After Dressing Up For World Book Day… Only To Find No One Else Did!
Woman Captures Candid Photo Of Elderly Couple. Their Response Is Wonderful
Man Uses Clever Code To Ensure Only The Real Owner Could Contact Him
Teacher Gets Hilariously Embarrassed After Dressing Up For World Book Day… Only To Find No One Else Did!
Dog's Balloon Game At Airport Has Travelers Smiling And Stress-Free
Evil Shopping Cart Makes A Targeted Attack
Watch This Bus Driver's Reaction To Kids Throwing Snowballs At His Windows
'That’s An Angel, Not A Dog': Service Pup Prevents Dangerous Fainting Episode