THANK YOU! We Wiped Out School Lunch Debt in SMF!
Donation protected
As of November 2018, nationwide over 73% of school lunches are served to kids who participate in the free and reduced lunch program. A number that’s been steadily rising.*
Many of the families who do not participate in the free and reduced lunch program, either are unaware that they qualify or simply make too much money to qualify, even though they may need the assistance.
The result of families struggling to make ends meet, whether they qualify for the free and reduced lunch program or not, is unpaid lunch account balances.
While some individual balances are simply an oversight, many families struggle to pay the lunch debt, and it can carry on from year to year all the way to graduation.
Recently, a group of citizens in the Stow-Munroe Falls School District wanted to know how we could help in our own district.
After investigating, we discovered that SMF Schools have $8000+ in unpaid lunch account balances.
Around the country, anonymous donors, parents, alumni and concerned citizens have been banding together to eliminate school lunch debt.
We know that the same can be done in Stow-Munroe Falls. We organized SMF Neighborhood Improvement and Community Engagement (N.I.C.E.) to make it happen!
Guess what? We were right.
Over $450 was raised before the campaign even got started!
Help us keep the ball rolling! Donate now!
$15.00 pays for 5 lunches/50 reduced lunches.
$50.00 pays for 18 lunches/166 reduced lunches.
$100.00 would erase some schools’ entire balances.
If 8 organizations raised/donated $500 each, we’d wipe out nearly HALF the district balance.
The goal of this GoFundMe campaign is to raise enough funds to pay off the Stow-Munroe Falls unpaid lunch account balances in full.
Once we reach our goal, funds will be deposited into SMF N. I. C. E.'s account and a check will be written directly to the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District
What will we do if we exceed our goal?
SMF N.I.C.E. will help families and citizens in Stow-Munroe Falls in other tangible ways. Ideas we are exploring include campaigns such as assisting in the purchase of caps, gowns and tassels for high school graduation, paying off library fines, and more.
We also endeavor to establish SMF N.I.C.E. as a 501(c)(3) to expand our ability to organize, support and fundraise for future community projects, including an ongoing effort to eliminate school lunch debt.
Why is paying off school lunch debt good for school districts?
It is not at all uncommon for public school districts to operate in a deficit, and unpaid lunch balances are a part of that. Your donation will not only support a family in need of help, but it will support the school district operating in the black!
What if I don’t live in the SMF School District?
Do you have family or close friends with students in the district? Are you alumni?
Yes? Great! We are so grateful you are willing to help!
No? We encourage you to find out how you can help eliminate school lunch debt in your own district!
Once the balances are paid, how do we reduce future balances?
We’re glad you asked! Each year, fill out the free and reduced lunch application for your child(ren), encourage others to do the same. Completed applications help the district identify need and meet budget expectations.
SMF N.I.C.E. has already pledged to be a part of ensuring that every family who qualifies participates in the free and reduced program. We hope to help identify the gaps in why applications are not being completed, and hope to assist the district in ensuring completion of applications in the future.
We are so incredibly grateful for your support!
Heather Shall
Recording Secretary, SMF N.I.C.E.
Stow-Munroe Falls Neighborhood Improvement and Community Engagement
(This fundraiser is not sponsored by the SMFCSD.)
* https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/pd/slsummar.pdf
Many of the families who do not participate in the free and reduced lunch program, either are unaware that they qualify or simply make too much money to qualify, even though they may need the assistance.
The result of families struggling to make ends meet, whether they qualify for the free and reduced lunch program or not, is unpaid lunch account balances.
While some individual balances are simply an oversight, many families struggle to pay the lunch debt, and it can carry on from year to year all the way to graduation.
Recently, a group of citizens in the Stow-Munroe Falls School District wanted to know how we could help in our own district.
After investigating, we discovered that SMF Schools have $8000+ in unpaid lunch account balances.
Around the country, anonymous donors, parents, alumni and concerned citizens have been banding together to eliminate school lunch debt.
We know that the same can be done in Stow-Munroe Falls. We organized SMF Neighborhood Improvement and Community Engagement (N.I.C.E.) to make it happen!
Guess what? We were right.
Over $450 was raised before the campaign even got started!
Help us keep the ball rolling! Donate now!
$15.00 pays for 5 lunches/50 reduced lunches.
$50.00 pays for 18 lunches/166 reduced lunches.
$100.00 would erase some schools’ entire balances.
If 8 organizations raised/donated $500 each, we’d wipe out nearly HALF the district balance.
The goal of this GoFundMe campaign is to raise enough funds to pay off the Stow-Munroe Falls unpaid lunch account balances in full.
Once we reach our goal, funds will be deposited into SMF N. I. C. E.'s account and a check will be written directly to the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District
What will we do if we exceed our goal?
SMF N.I.C.E. will help families and citizens in Stow-Munroe Falls in other tangible ways. Ideas we are exploring include campaigns such as assisting in the purchase of caps, gowns and tassels for high school graduation, paying off library fines, and more.
We also endeavor to establish SMF N.I.C.E. as a 501(c)(3) to expand our ability to organize, support and fundraise for future community projects, including an ongoing effort to eliminate school lunch debt.
Why is paying off school lunch debt good for school districts?
It is not at all uncommon for public school districts to operate in a deficit, and unpaid lunch balances are a part of that. Your donation will not only support a family in need of help, but it will support the school district operating in the black!
What if I don’t live in the SMF School District?
Do you have family or close friends with students in the district? Are you alumni?
Yes? Great! We are so grateful you are willing to help!
No? We encourage you to find out how you can help eliminate school lunch debt in your own district!
Once the balances are paid, how do we reduce future balances?
We’re glad you asked! Each year, fill out the free and reduced lunch application for your child(ren), encourage others to do the same. Completed applications help the district identify need and meet budget expectations.
SMF N.I.C.E. has already pledged to be a part of ensuring that every family who qualifies participates in the free and reduced program. We hope to help identify the gaps in why applications are not being completed, and hope to assist the district in ensuring completion of applications in the future.
We are so incredibly grateful for your support!
Heather Shall
Recording Secretary, SMF N.I.C.E.
Stow-Munroe Falls Neighborhood Improvement and Community Engagement
(This fundraiser is not sponsored by the SMFCSD.)
* https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/pd/slsummar.pdf
Fundraising team: SMF N.I.C.E. (5)
Heather Wolff Shall
Organizer
Stow, OH
Heather Rosenfeld Walter
Team member
Kari Liane
Team member
Sunny Matthews
Team member
Sarah Haren
Team member
