An effort to wipe out student lunch debt for those on the free and reduced lunch program at Warsaw Community Schools raised $8,000, which was given to the school corporation Wednesday.
Nathan Underneath, owner of Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema, 112 E. Center St., Warsaw, said, “When we set out originally, it started with trying to sponsor a few families anonymously just to help out where I could. It has snowballed and then there was a $13,000 debt at the time.”
Underneath said he got other businesses involved and a lot of individuals donated $20 here and there.
He tried to raise enough money for the entire debt, which has since reduced to $11,000. Stacie Light, food service director at Warsaw Community Schools, said the debt for the free and reduced lunch program fluctuates. Underneath said they were able to raise $8,000.
Some of the businesses and donors wanted to remain anonymous. Forte Residential and Home Health Care Services probably gave the biggest donation at $1,000, he said. There were businesses like Texas Roadhouse, Panda Express and Hacienda Mexican Restaurant who didn’t donate monetarily, but they donated things like meals and giveback days. Texas Roadhouse donated 200 free appetizers, so anyone who bought peanuts, that money would get donated and the person would get a free appetizer.
“We approached this from a lot of different angles. Any individual who donated $20 was given a coupon for a free Panda Express meal. And Hacienda did a 20% giveback day, so that raised another $400,” he said, noting they are still waiting on the checks, but the money was included in the check given to WCS and the amount was rounded up and he’s going to cover the difference.
Underneath said it was amazing how many individuals were interested in donating. He was stopped at the bar, grocery store and restaurants and asked if Moving Pictures was still collecting money.
Several people donated more than once.
“We had one lady that - she works multiple jobs - and her side gig, she donated 50% every single week from her side job. So it helps,” he said.
Some of the stories coming out of the people who donated multiple times were typically from people who had been on the program themselves.
“It wasn’t even people that were in these real comfortable (positions) now. It was, ‘I remember how hard it was. I remember what I went through and I don’t want anyone else have to go through that. And now I’m in a position to give,’” Underneath said, noting that mindset was why the fundraiser was started.
Alex Neff, who takes care of social media for Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema, brought up the story of one student giving up his lunch for a friend who was too embarrassed to get a lunch from the free and reduced lunch program.
“There’s so many stories of people coming up and sharing their experience or why it was near and dear to their hearts,” Underneath said.
Light said, “We’re here to feed kids. That’s what we want to do. We want to feed kids. We don’t want to be the ones that say, ‘I’m sorry, honey, you don’t have any money on your account. You can’t get a lunch.’ So that’s probably why our balance is a little high.”
She said it’s hard to make those calls like a bill collectors, saying the donation was wonderful.
Light explained what WCS is planning on doing with the $8,000 donation: They will do a 50% match.
“What we to do is wait until the end of the year to make those phone calls and say, ‘Your balance due is $100. If you can pay $50 today, I have a donor that is willing to match your balance due. That way we can reach more kids. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to reach all of our kids” on $8,000.
If WCS does a 50% match, they can reach all of their students on the program. Any money that is left will be put into reserve until next year.
Light said the school district’s free and reduced lunch percentage is documented at over 46%. That includes 45.5% who are economically disadvantaged and 1.9% who are homeless, according to a statistic provided by WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. The student population at WCS is about 6,700.
Underneath said it’s more empowering to the families that way, as it’s not a handout and it’s not shaming anyone for going through a hard time.