A campaign inspired by Philando Castile has raised more than $6,000 to clear the school lunch debts of St. Paul Public Schools students.
Pam Fergus, a professor at Inver Hills Community College, set up a giving page at youcaring.com one week ago. It had received $6,043 from 161 donors as of Thursday afternoon.
Fergus said the proceeds would pay off debts at J.J. Hill Elementary, where Castile worked in food service until he was fatally shot during a July 2016 traffic stop. Chelsea Heights, where Castile previously worked, will benefit, too.
Castile’s mother has promised to match the donations.
About 80 percent of St. Paul district students get free lunches from the federal government, either because they come from low-income families or they attend a school where large numbers are eligible for subsidized meals.
J.J. Hill and Chelsea Heights do not benefit from the government’s community-eligibility provision. Roughly 250 students at each school pay when they eat school lunch.
In St. Paul, those with no money in their accounts get a cheese sandwich and milk instead of a full lunch.
Last year, a separate campaign to pay off lunch debts in St. Paul raised $39,300, more than enough to clear all lunch debts in the district. Close to half of those who had their balances erased were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches but racked up the debts before applying for the benefit.
Since that campaign, lunch debts in the district have grown to around $15,000, including $800 at J.J. Hill.
That fundraising page, set up by the school district, is again accepting donations.