Fauquier Excellence in Education Foundation Spearheads Efforts To Reduce School Lunch Debt

Support Encouraged in Two Community Fundraising Campaigns

Warrenton, VA—For the past several years, Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS)

has experienced an increase in school lunch debt, the amount of money families owe

for meals their children purchase in school cafeterias. The Fauquier Excellence in

Education Foundation aims to alleviate at least part of the approximately $42,000 debt

and invites the public to contribute to an ongoing community fundraising

campaign on their website—fauquiereie.org—as well as their participation in Give

Local Piedmont on May 14.

While families who qualify for free meals don’t factor into this debt, families who have

fallen on hard times and struggle to pay for school meals, have been on the rise. FCPS

School Nutrition Director SueAnn Fox explains that food insecurity is also on the rise

and that all school cafeterias provide meals to any student who requests

it—regardless of their ability to pay. She notes school lunch debt that remains at the

end of the school year is carried forward to the next year on the student’s account—this

can become overwhelming for families experiencing financial struggles.

The public is encouraged to contribute to this worthy cause by making a tax-deductible

donation directly through the Foundation’s website noted above—the campaign is on

the homepage. In addition, the Foundation will match funds up to $2,000 of proceeds

earned during Give Local Piedmont to this cause, and additional funds raised will

support other Foundation programs. Visit givelocalpiedmont.org and search Fauquier

Excellence in Education to learn more.

Fauquier Excellence in Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

dedicated to its mission of creating, enriching, and expanding educational opportunities

for Fauquier County Public Schools, teachers, and students. All donations are tax-

deductible as allowed by law.

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