Community Clears School Meal Debt for Graduating Seniors!
We have incredible news to share: thanks to the compassion and generosity of our community, donors across the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) came together to raise enough funding to clear school meal debt for the Class of 2026. Every graduating senior in our community will now cross the stage this month without the burden of unpaid meal balances—able to celebrate this milestone with pride and joy.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this possible for students and families across our district.
If you would still like to support students with outstanding meal balances, donations will continue helping other LWSD students in need. Please consider making a gift below.
Help Our Seniors Graduate with Pride—Not Debt
Graduation is just around the corner—and while our seniors are preparing to walk across the stage, some are carrying more than just caps and gowns. They’re carrying lunch debt.
At Lake Washington Schools Foundation, we believe every student deserves to cross the stage with confidence and a clean slate. Our community has always shown up for students—and now, we’re asking you to do it again.
We’re raising $15,000 to clear lunch debt for graduating seniors across the Lake Washington School District.
Your gift can help lift this burden—will you join us?
If more funds are raised than needed to cover current senior lunch debt, the surplus will be used to reduce lunch debt for other students.
Why Meal Debt Happens for Some Families
Many factors can contribute to student meal debt, even for families who are working hard to make ends meet.
- The income limits for qualifying are based on national guidelines and don’t reflect the high cost of living in our area, so some families who don’t qualify may still struggle to afford school meals.
- Some families may feel nervous about filling out the Free and Reduced Lunch application because it asks for personal information or they may fear being stigmatized.
- Students must take a “complete meal” for it to count as free or reduced-price. For example, taking only a slice of pizza may still result in a charge.
