Each year there is uncertainty around how much lunch debt will accumulate in the Franklin Special District and who will support the district in paying it off.

Since United4Hope’s partnership with the Franklin Special District, church partners have provided the necessary monetary donations to ensure each child does not start the school year off with a negative cafeteria balance. This is their story and impact.  

Donations: 

Christ Community Church  

St. Paul Episcopal Church  

Bethlehem United Methodist Church  

Holy Family Catholic Church

Southeast Christian Church is currently considering a donation. 

A message from Christ Community Church, Ellen So, Mission Coordinator and Project Manager: 

“As a church motivated by and committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we believe in caring for the practical needs of our community. By helping eliminate school lunch debt, we hope to ease the burden on families and ensure that every child feels seen, valued, and supported.” 

We asked Marne Price, Franklin Special District Food and Culinary Operations Coordinator, her thoughts: 

Why is it important to cover the student lunch debt?  

“We know that children will choose not to eat to keep from adding to their negative balance that their parents are responsible for paying.  Children take on this worry that should just be an adult issue.  When children choose not to eat it affects their classroom performance and behavior. The saying, ‘A hungry child can’t learn’ has been proven by research over and over.” 

When the Franklin Special District found out that church partners were covering the remaining student lunch debt, how did you feel? 

“We felt RELIEVED!  We had some families that had gotten very far behind in paying for meals.  When students start a new school year with a large negative balance this can cause some children not to eat with us.  They are more concerned about causing their family stress, so they go without eating lunch.  Or they become very anxious causing their negative balance to increase.” 

What does it mean to you, Marne Price as the Food and Culinary Operations Coordinator? 

“In helping cafeterias at lunch, I witness firsthand the disappointment in children when they realize they can’t purchase ice cream, or extra food due to a negative balance.  (We always feed children a lunch, no matter their balance, but we do not allow a la carte purchases if there is a negative balance.) I also witness the relief on their face when they learn their negative balance is no longer there.  Their entire body reacts to the relief.   Erasing the stigma, “my family can’t afford to pay” is a true gift for a child.  I wish I could put into words what I see in a child’s face.  For me, it means a child has renewed hope that things will be better.” 

What was the impact? 

“It helps us in our mission to educate children and focus on preparing them for the future.” 

We need our community support. Please keep an eye out next year around April to hear how you can help with the Franklin Special District student lunch debt. For now, let’s celebrate these churches! 

-Marian Whitney 

United4Hope Program Manager