Church Gives Back to Community, Pays Off School Lunch Debt

May 2, 2023209 views0

Church Gives Back to Community, Pays Off School Lunch Debt

2023-05-02T11:52:10+01:00

By Marie

The Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas has donated more than $20,000 to pay off Austin Independent School District students’ lunch debt for the school year and prevent more debt from piling up before the end of the school year.The Church said it allocates funds each year for missionary work. In the past, the Covenant Presbyterian Church has helped Central Texas residents pay off medical debt and helped maintain comprehensive services for people experiencing homelessness.“We’re hoping to fill a gap that other people haven’t been able to fill, that the kids will have less anxiety,” said mission director Whitney Bell. We hope Covenant shows our school district that we love and care about all students, especially the kids stuck in the middle who can’t afford lunch but may not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.”Whitney said she always has her “ear to the ground” to figure out the needs of our city. “I had been hearing over and over again about the school lunch debt issue.”After a conversation with Associate Pastor Jill Williams, and Jill’s enthusiastic response to the idea, Whitney contacted AISD. She was connected to Christina Cowern, AISD revenue accountant for food services, who handles all student lunch debt questions.“The fact that this gift is given to every student who qualifies with no strings attached represents the free and undeserved grace we have all received and is the foundation of our Christian faith,” said Senior Pastor Thomas Daniel.Whitney learned that AISD does a good job of managing student lunch debt. According to the district’s website, an elementary or middle school student may charge up to three meals; high school students may charge up to two meals. When students reach the charge limit, they continue to receive courtesy meals. There is no cap on the number of courtesy meals a student may receive.ALSO READ: Christ Addict Feeds Over 200 Homeless Kids