Seattle dad aims to pay off every school lunch debt in the state of Washington
A Seattle father of three is well on his way to eliminating all school lunch debt in the state of Washington.
Jeffrey Lew read an article about some school districts that either refuse to give students lunch if they don't have any cash on them or take away their hot meal and replace it with something cold. Other districts send the kids home with invoices, which can add up quickly. "It boggles my mind that a child can accrue a debt at school," he told Today Parents. "I was determined to do something about it." Lew found out his sons' school was trying to collect $97.10 worth of student lunch debt, paid that, then moved on to tackle all of the debt owed to Seattle Public Schools — $20,531.79.
Lew started a GoFundMe, and the money has been coming in steadily, allowing Lew to pay off $100,000 worth of debt across Washington. His goal is to pay off every debt in the state, and he hopes that one day, there will be universal free lunch. Lew said he's "passionate" about having students focus just on learning, not worrying about whether they'll get lunch that day, and he hopes his children understand the impact this is making. "Being kind is something you will never regret," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
4 benefits first-time homebuyers should know about
The explainer Home prices are dropping and this fall is looking particularly buyer-friendly
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
More women opted for sterilization after Roe was overturned
Under the radar New research shows that the trend is especially high in states where abortion was banned
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: September 13, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published