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8-year-old Denver girl bakes and sells biscuits to help pay off $11,000 DPS school lunch debt

Denver students help pay off school lunch debt
Posted at 5:46 PM, Jul 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-24 21:03:30-04

DENVER – Summer is almost over, and with school around the corner, some students could be going without lunch for the day.

Some students in Denver are starting to take matters into their own hands to make sure that problem doesn’t happen, and are trying to raise money in order to pay off the entire Denver Public Schools lunch debt.

School districts do provide an alternative lunch to those with debt—graham crackers with milk—but some children are ashamed to take those meals.

That’s why 8-year-old Lily Hernandez is trying to do all she can to prevent this from happening. She is one of many kids who are part of the KidsGIving365 campaign. 

“It’s not fair that kids won’t be able to get lunch because they may not have money or can’t afford it,” Hernandez said.

“Not every kid qualifies for a school lunch program,” said Kelli Hernandez, Lily’s mother. “That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to eat – especially at public schools.”

According to the School Nutrition Association, 20 million US students get a free lunch. However, 76 percent of U.S. school districts have kids with lunch debt.

According to KidsGiving365, Denver Public Schools have $11,000 of school lunch debt, which is the exact amount that KidsGiving365 wants to raise.

“It makes me sad because it’s not fair,” said Lily Hernandez. “Why should someone not have a lunch when everybody else does?”

Lily plans on doing her part by baking biscuits and selling each one for $1.

The KidsGiving365 organization is hoping to generate enough donations to pay off the school lunch debt of children who will face the new school year without a hot lunch.  You can join the campaign by clicking here.