The Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF) announced today a $50,000 donation to the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Lunch for Learners fund to help pay off student lunch debt.

The Lunch for Learners fund was started in 2010 by then-Superintendent and current Interim Superintendent Chris Belcher and Laina Fullum, director of Nutrition Services, with a $5,000 donation from Heart of Missouri United Way. The fund was created to assist families who don’t qualify for free or reduced-price lunch but need additional support because of temporary circumstances.

“The CPSF Board of Directors voted to approve this funding for Lunch for Learners, knowing that hungry students cannot be good learners,” said Katie Harris, executive director of CPSF. “We care about our community of learners and are happy to help families in need in this way.”

The Foundation is challenging the community to donate $50,000 to assist in paying off the debt. Donations to CPSF are tax-deductible and can be made online at cpsf.org/donate or by mail to CPSF at P.O. Box 1234, Columbia, MO 65205.

The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is a private foundation established by community volunteers dedicated to the enrichment of public education through community giving. The Foundation has funded projects in every school, allocating more than $1.7 million to enhance education in the Columbia
Public Schools. CPSF was founded in 1996 and has supported teachers and students for 29 years.