Community rallies to erase student meal debt

IOLA – A community fundraising effort is working to eliminate thousands of dollars in unpaid student lunch balances to support families facing financial hardship.

More than $3,500 had been raised as of Monday, putting the effort more than halfway toward its $6,000 goal of eliminating unpaid student meal debt in the Iola-Scandinavia School District in less than a week.

The campaign was started by Scandinavia resident Barb Nelson, a mother of fifth-grade twins in the district.

“Last year my daughter came home and asked if she could take two Lunchables to school,” Barb Nelson recalled. “She told me, ‘Mom, one of my friends doesn’t have money to eat, and she’s really hungry, so I share my Lunchable with her.’ I just started packing a double lunch every day so she could share.”

After reading about a school lunch debt initiative in a neighboring community, Barb Nelson said she contacted Iola-Scandinavia District Administrator Chris Nelson, who said the district carried about $6,000 in unpaid food service balances, impacting about 35 family accounts.

Chris Nelson said district policy guarantees that every student receives a nutritious meal regardless of their account standing.

“No student is ever turned away or denied a school meal because of an unpaid balance,” Chris Nelson said. “Our top priority is ensuring every student is well-nourished, supported, and ready to learn.”

The community response was swift. Local coffee shop ScandiHus launched a month-long drive asking customers to donate $4 at checkout to cover a student meal, raising over $700 in its first 24 hours. Individual pledges also began pouring in.

To make direct contributions easier for the public, Barb Nelson worked with the school district’s business manager to establish a dedicated PayPal donation link, which a local teacher then converted into a scannable QR code.

“When the school messaged me about the total, I literally got goosebumps,” Barb Nelson said. “Our community is just amazing.”

Standard lunch prices in the district are set at $3.20 for elementary students and $3.50 for secondary students, while eligible families receive free meals or reduced-price lunches for $0.40 through the USDA National School Lunch Program.

According to district administration, student meal debt typically accumulates when family accounts drop below zero, often driven by secondary purchases such as optional extra milk or additional entrees at the middle and high school levels. Under district food service guidelines, family accounts may charge up to $50 before restrictions on extra items take effect.

Chris Nelson said district officials actively guide eligible families through financial aid applications and utilize debt-matching grants to help clear negative balances.

Because the district’s Food Service Fund is required to operate self-sufficiently, uncollectible student balances must eventually be covered by the school district’s general fund, diverting resources away from educational programs, he said, adding that community donations directly shield the district budget from these operational shortfalls.

“We are deeply grateful for local business owners and community members who have independently spearheaded fundraising initiatives to support our students,” Chris Nelson said.

Organizers hope to extend the effort beyond wiping out the immediate balance. Any surplus funds collected will remain in a restricted food service donation account to assist families experiencing financial hardship throughout the school year.

“Ultimately, I want to wipe out that $6,000, but moving forward I want that account to remain open so families and kids never have to worry about paying for lunch,” Barb Nelson said.

“This community has faced challenges, but when it matters, Iola steps up.”

Donations to the Iola-Scandinavia unpaid student lunch fund can be made directly through the district’s PayPal donation link at paypal.com/ncp/payment/AH947EDUTR7RY. Donations can also be dropped off in person at the school district office or mailed to the school and marked specifically for the unpaid student lunch balance account.